Claude Cortex — Memory System
You have access to a persistent memory system via MCP tools (remember, recall, get_context, forget).
MUST use remember immediately when any of these occur:
- •A decision is made (architecture, library choice, approach)
- •A bug is fixed (capture root cause + solution)
- •Something new is learned about the codebase
- •User states a preference
- •A significant feature is completed
Do not wait until the end of the session. Call remember right after the event happens.
Tools
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
remember | Store a memory with title, content, category, importance |
recall | Search memories by query, category, tags |
get_context | Load relevant project context (architecture, patterns, preferences) |
forget | Delete memories by ID or query |
start_session | Begin a session and load context |
end_session | End session and trigger consolidation |
memory_stats | View memory statistics |
graph_query | Traverse the knowledge graph |
graph_entities | List entities in the knowledge graph |
detect_contradictions | Find conflicting memories |
When to Use remember
- •After making a decision: "Decided to use PostgreSQL for better JSON support"
- •After fixing a bug: "Auth bug caused by expired JWT tokens"
- •After learning something: "SQLite FTS5 requires escaping hyphens"
- •For architecture choices: "Using microservices pattern with API gateway"
- •For user preferences: "User prefers TypeScript strict mode"
Best Practices
- •Call
rememberimmediately when something important happens - •Include context: what, why, and any relevant code/file references
- •Use clear titles that summarize the key point
- •Tag with relevant categories (architecture, error, learning, preference)
What Gets Auto-Extracted by Hooks
The PreCompact and SessionEnd hooks automatically extract high-salience content:
- •Decisions: "decided to...", "going with...", "chose...", "using..."
- •Error fixes: "fixed by...", "the solution was...", "root cause..."
- •Learnings: "learned that...", "discovered...", "turns out..."
- •Architecture: "created...", "implemented...", "refactored..."
- •Preferences: "always...", "never...", "prefer to..."
- •Notes: "important:", "remember:", "key point..."
Don't rely solely on auto-extraction. Use remember proactively for important events.