Using Artifacts for Code, Documents, and Diagrams

Artifacts are Claude's way of separating generated content from the conversation. Instead of burying a 200-line code file in a chat message, Claude displays it in a dedicated panel where you can preview, edit, iterate, and export it.

How Artifacts Work

When Claude generates substantial content, it automatically creates an Artifact — a standalone panel that appears beside the conversation. This happens for:

• Code — JavaScript, Python, HTML/CSS, and other languages
• Documents — Markdown, formatted text, reports
• Web pages — Full HTML with live preview
• React components — Interactive UI rendered in real-time
• SVG graphics — Diagrams, charts, illustrations
• Mermaid diagrams — Flowcharts, sequence diagrams, architecture diagrams

Short answers and explanations stay in the chat. Substantial, self-contained content becomes an Artifact.

Creating Your First Artifact

You do not need special commands to create Artifacts. Simply ask Claude to build something substantial:

Ask for code:

Build a React component that displays a pricing table
with three tiers: Free, Pro, and Enterprise.

Ask for a document:

Write a project brief for redesigning our onboarding flow.
Include goals, timeline, stakeholders, and success metrics.

Ask for a diagram:

Create a flowchart showing our user registration process
from landing page to email verification.

Claude will automatically generate an Artifact with live preview.

Working with Code Artifacts

Code Artifacts are especially powerful because they render live previews for web technologies.

HTML/CSS Previews

When you ask Claude to create an HTML page, the Artifact shows both the code and a live rendered preview. You can:

• Toggle between Code and Preview views
• See changes reflected immediately when you iterate
• Copy the code or download the file

React Components

Claude can generate self-contained React components that render live in the Artifact panel:

Create a React component for a task management board
with columns for To Do, In Progress, and Done.
Allow dragging tasks between columns.

The Artifact renders the component interactively — you can click, type, and interact with it right in the preview.

Python, JavaScript, and Other Languages

For non-web languages, Artifacts display syntax-highlighted code with line numbers. You can copy the entire file or specific sections.

Working with Document Artifacts

When Claude generates long-form content, it creates a document Artifact:

Write a 1500-word blog post about the benefits of remote work
for engineering teams. Include statistics and actionable advice.

The document appears in the Artifact panel with proper formatting — headings, bullet points, bold text — making it easy to review before copying to your publishing platform.

Working with Diagrams

Claude can create visual diagrams using SVG or Mermaid syntax:

Flowcharts

Create a flowchart showing the decision process for
choosing between a monolith and microservices architecture.

Sequence Diagrams

Create a sequence diagram showing the OAuth 2.0
authorization code flow between the client, auth server,
and resource server.

Architecture Diagrams

Create a system architecture diagram for a typical
e-commerce platform showing the frontend, API gateway,
microservices, database, and CDN layers.

All diagrams render visually in the Artifact panel — no need to use external diagramming tools.

Iterating on Artifacts

One of the most powerful features is iteration. After Claude creates an Artifact, you can refine it through conversation:

Incremental Changes

Change the color scheme to use blue and white instead of purple.

Add a fourth pricing tier called "Startup" between Free and Pro.

Make the flowchart horizontal instead of vertical.

Version History

Claude maintains version history for Artifacts. You can:

• Compare versions to see what changed
• Revert to a previous version if a change did not work
• Branch from any version to try different directions

Effective Iteration Prompts

Be specific about what to change:

Vague (Slow)	Specific (Fast)
"Make it better"	"Increase font size to 16px and add more padding between sections"
"Fix the design"	"Align the three cards horizontally with equal spacing"
"Update the content"	"Replace the second paragraph with a customer testimonial"

Exporting Artifacts

Once your Artifact is ready, you have several options:

• Copy — Copy the content to your clipboard
• Download — Save as a file (HTML, JS, MD, etc.)
• Publish — Share a public link to interactive Artifacts (available on some plans)

Tips for Export

• For React components, copy the code into your project's component directory
• For HTML pages, download and open directly in a browser
• For documents, copy the Markdown into your CMS or Google Docs
• For diagrams, download the SVG for use in presentations or documentation

When Artifacts Are Not Created

Claude will not create an Artifact for:

• Short code snippets (a few lines explaining a concept)
• Brief answers or explanations
• Lists and simple formatting
• Conversational responses

If you want Claude to create an Artifact for something it did not, explicitly ask:

Create this as an artifact so I can preview and download it.

Key Takeaways

• Artifacts separate substantial content (code, documents, diagrams) into a dedicated preview panel
• Code Artifacts render live previews for HTML, CSS, and React components
• Iterate on Artifacts with specific change requests — Claude maintains version history
• Diagrams (flowcharts, sequence diagrams, architecture) render visually without external tools
• Export Artifacts by copying, downloading, or publishing a shareable link
• Ask Claude to "create this as an artifact" if it does not generate one automatically