Using with the memory tool

Context editing can be combined with the memory tool. When your conversation context approaches the configured clearing threshold, Claude receives an automatic warning to preserve important information. This enables Claude to save tool results or context to its memory files before they're cleared from the conversation history.

This combination allows you to:

• Preserve important context: Claude can write essential information from tool results to memory files before those results are cleared
• Maintain long-running workflows: Enable agentic workflows that would otherwise exceed context limits by offloading information to persistent storage
• Access information on demand: Claude can look up previously cleared information from memory files when needed, rather than keeping everything in the active context window

For example, in a file editing workflow where Claude performs many operations, Claude can summarize completed changes to memory files as the context grows. When tool results are cleared, Claude retains access to that information through its memory system and can continue working effectively.

To use both features together, enable them in your API request:

curl https://api.anthropic.com/v1/messages \
    --header "x-api-key: $ANTHROPIC_API_KEY" \
    --header "anthropic-version: 2023-06-01" \
    --header "content-type: application/json" \
    --header "anthropic-beta: context-management-2025-06-27" \
    --data '{
        "model": "claude-opus-5",
        "max_tokens": 4096,
        "messages": [
            {
                "role": "user",
                "content": "Hello"
            }
        ],
        "tools": [
            {
                "type": "memory_20250818",
                "name": "memory"
            }
        ],
        "context_management": {
            "edits": [
                {"type": "clear_tool_uses_20250919"}
            ]
        }
    }'

ant beta:messages create --beta context-management-2025-06-27 <<'YAML'
model: claude-opus-5
max_tokens: 4096
messages:
  - role: user
    content: Hello
tools:
  - type: memory_20250818
    name: memory
context_management:
  edits:
    - type: clear_tool_uses_20250919
YAML

response = client.beta.messages.create(
    model="claude-opus-5",
    max_tokens=4096,
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}],
    tools=[{"type": "memory_20250818", "name": "memory"}],
    betas=["context-management-2025-06-27"],
    context_management={"edits": [{"type": "clear_tool_uses_20250919"}]},
)

const anthropic = new Anthropic({
  apiKey: process.env.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY
});

const response = await anthropic.beta.messages.create({
  model: "claude-opus-5",
  max_tokens: 4096,
  messages: [{ role: "user", content: "Hello" }],
  tools: [
    {
      type: "memory_20250818",
      name: "memory"
    }
  ],
  betas: ["context-management-2025-06-27"],
  context_management: {
    edits: [{ type: "clear_tool_uses_20250919" }]
  }
});

using Anthropic;
using Anthropic.Models.Beta;
using Anthropic.Models.Beta.Messages;
using Messages = Anthropic.Models.Messages;

AnthropicClient client = new();

var parameters = new MessageCreateParams
{
    Model = Messages::Model.ClaudeOpus5,
    MaxTokens = 4096,
    Messages = [
        new() { Role = Role.User, Content = "Hello" }
    ],
    Tools = [
        new BetaMemoryTool20250818()
    ],
    Betas = [AnthropicBeta.ContextManagement2025_06_27],
    ContextManagement = new BetaContextManagementConfig
    {
        Edits = [new BetaClearToolUses20250919Edit()]
    }
};

var response = await client.Beta.Messages.Create(parameters);
Console.WriteLine(response);

client := anthropic.NewClient()

response, err := client.Beta.Messages.New(context.TODO(), anthropic.BetaMessageNewParams{
	Model:     anthropic.ModelClaudeOpus5,
	MaxTokens: 4096,
	Messages: []anthropic.BetaMessageParam{
		anthropic.NewBetaUserMessage(anthropic.NewBetaTextBlock("Hello")),
	},
	Tools: []anthropic.BetaToolUnionParam{
		{OfMemoryTool20250818: &anthropic.BetaMemoryTool20250818Param{}},
	},
	Betas: []anthropic.AnthropicBeta{anthropic.AnthropicBetaContextManagement2025_06_27},
	ContextManagement: anthropic.BetaContextManagementConfigParam{
		Edits: []anthropic.BetaContextManagementConfigEditUnionParam{
			{OfClearToolUses20250919: &anthropic.BetaClearToolUses20250919EditParam{}},
		},
	},
})
if err != nil {
	log.Fatal(err)
}
fmt.Println(response)

import com.anthropic.models.beta.messages.BetaMemoryTool20250818;
import com.anthropic.models.beta.messages.BetaContextManagementConfig;
import com.anthropic.models.beta.messages.BetaClearToolUses20250919Edit;
import com.anthropic.models.beta.AnthropicBeta;
// ...
void main() {
    AnthropicClient client = AnthropicOkHttpClient.fromEnv();

    MessageCreateParams params = MessageCreateParams.builder()
        .model(Model.CLAUDE_OPUS_5)
        .maxTokens(4096L)
        .addUserMessage("Hello")
        .addTool(BetaMemoryTool20250818.builder().build())
        .addBeta(AnthropicBeta.CONTEXT_MANAGEMENT_2025_06_27)
        .contextManagement(BetaContextManagementConfig.builder()
            .addEdit(BetaClearToolUses20250919Edit.builder().build())
            .build())
        .build();

    BetaMessage response = client.beta().messages().create(params);
    IO.println(response);
}

$client = new Client();

$response = $client->beta->messages->create(
    maxTokens: 4096,
    messages: [
        ['role' => 'user', 'content' => 'Hello']
    ],
    model: 'claude-opus-5',
    betas: ['context-management-2025-06-27'],
    tools: [
        [
            'type' => 'memory_20250818',
            'name' => 'memory'
        ]
    ],
    contextManagement: [
        'edits' => [
            ['type' => 'clear_tool_uses_20250919']
        ]
    ],
);

echo $response;

client = Anthropic::Client.new

response = client.beta.messages.create(
  model: "claude-opus-5",
  max_tokens: 4096,
  messages: [{ role: "user", content: "Hello" }],
  tools: [
    {
      type: "memory_20250818",
      name: "memory"
    }
  ],
  betas: ["context-management-2025-06-27"],
  context_management: {
    edits: [
      { type: "clear_tool_uses_20250919" }
    ]
  }
)
puts response

For the full memory tool reference including commands and examples, see Memory tool.