# Project

> A home for one piece of ongoing work that keeps files, instructions, and chats together, so every new chat starts already briefed.

**Category:** Claude

**A project keeps everything for one piece of work in one place:** the files Claude should know (knowledge), a standing brief (instructions), and all the chats about it. Because the context is always there, **every new chat in the project starts already briefed**, so you stop re-explaining yourself.

It sits between a single [chat](/glossary#chat) and your whole account: broader than one conversation, focused on one job. On paid plans it scales to large knowledge with retrieval.

## At work

Running a client account? Make it a project. Drop in the contract and past notes, write a one-line brief, and every chat about that client already has the background.

## Often confused with

A chat. A [chat](/glossary#chat) is one conversation; a project is a home for many chats plus shared files and instructions.

## Related terms

- Chat
- Context
- Custom instructions

## See it in a lesson

[Projects](/en/learn/working-smart/projects)

## Further reading

- [What are projects? (Help)](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/9517075-what-are-projects): Anthropic's own overview of projects.
- [How can I create and manage projects? (Help)](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/9519177-how-can-i-create-and-manage-projects): Setting one up, step by step.
- [Understanding Claude's personalization features (Help)](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/10185728-understanding-claude-s-personalization-features): How project context fits the bigger picture.

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Last updated: 24/07/2026  
Source: Rollo Academy glossary