Headless Mode for Claude Code FAQs

Question 1

How do I handle tool permissions in automated scripts?

Accepted Answer

Use the --allowedTools flag to pre-approve specific tools like Bash, Read, or Write. For higher security, you can even restrict Bash to specific command patterns.

Question 2

What is Claude Code Headless Mode?

Accepted Answer

Headless mode allows you to run Claude Code non-interactively using the -p or --print flag, making it possible to integrate Claude into scripts, cron jobs, and CI/CD pipelines.

Question 3

Does headless mode support real-time streaming?

Accepted Answer

Yes, by setting --output-format to stream-json, Claude Code will provide newline-delimited JSON objects as the response is generated.

Question 4

How can I get structured data from Claude Code?

Accepted Answer

You can use the --output-format json flag to receive responses as JSON objects. For even stricter control, use the --json-schema flag to force the output to match a specific structure.

Question 5

Can I continue a conversation across multiple CLI calls?

Accepted Answer

Yes, by using the --continue flag to pick up the last session or by saving the session_id and using the --resume flag to return to a specific state.

Headless Mode for Claude Code

About

Key Features

Use Cases

Headless Mode for Claude Code

About

Key Features

Use Cases