Claude Code Hooks

Imagine you have a super capable assistant who can do pretty much everything: write code, manage files, run programs. The only problem? They sometimes forget your rules and preferences. What if you could create automatic reminders that kick in at exactly the right moment?

The Story of the Forgetful Helper

My colleague Maria works with Claude Code — an AI tool that helps programmers. Recently, she noticed a problem: Claude was great at writing code but kept forgetting to format it properly. Every single time, she had to remind him: "Don't forget to clean up the code!" But AI isn't human, and even the smartest assistants sometimes "forget" instructions.

Then Maria discovered something called Claude Code Hooks — and everything changed.

What Are Hooks in Plain English

Hooks are automatic rules that trigger at specific moments when Claude Code is working. Think of them as smart alarms that remind the AI about important stuff:

• "Before saving any file — check the formatting"
• "After running a command — log it in the journal"
• "If you're trying to modify an important file — ask permission first"

This turns polite requests into iron-clad rules that always get followed.

Four Key Moments for Automation

Claude Code gives you four crucial moments where you can step in:

PreToolUse — "Hold Up, Think First!"

Triggers before the AI does anything. Here you can:

• Block dangerous actions
• Remind about formatting rules
• Check permissions

PostToolUse — "Now Clean Up Your Mess"

Triggers after an action is completed. Perfect for:

• Automatic code formatting
• Creating backups
• Updating documentation

Notification — "Tell Me in Your Own Special Way"

Controls notifications. You can set up:

• Slack messages
• Sound alerts
• Custom notifications

Stop — "Not So Fast, Buddy"

Triggers when the AI wants to finish working. Lets you:

• Force it to keep going
• Add final checks
• Generate reports

Real-World Examples That Actually Matter

Automatic Quality Control

Developer Mike set up a hook that checks every JavaScript file before saving. If the code doesn't meet company standards, the AI gets crystal-clear instructions on how to fix the issues.

Smart Security System

A development team created a hook that blocks any changes to production files without special permission. Now even the most "confident" AI can't accidentally break the live system.

Personal Auditor

Freelancer Sarah configured automatic logging of every command Claude runs. This helps her track project time and understand which tasks eat up the most hours.

Why This Is Game-Changing

Working with AI assistants used to be like managing a really smart but absent-minded intern. You'd constantly have to remind them about the same things. Hooks flip this dynamic:

Before: "Claude, don't forget to format the code... Claude, you forgot again!"
Now: Code gets automatically formatted every single time, no exceptions.

Before: "Be careful with those files... Oops, he already changed them!"
Now: The system automatically blocks risky actions.

Safety First (Seriously)

Hooks are powerful tools that run commands with your full user permissions. Anthropic is straight up about it: "Use at your own risk." It's like giving someone the keys to your car — you better be sure about what you're doing.

Key safety principles:

• Always review commands before adding them
• Test hooks in a safe environment first
• Don't give access to mission-critical files
• Use full paths for scripts

A Glimpse Into the Future of Automation

Claude Code Hooks represent a new way of working with AI. Instead of relying on the artificial intelligence's "memory" and "attention span," we're building systems of automatic checks and actions.

This is especially crucial in professional environments where mistakes can be expensive. Imagine:

• Banking software where every change automatically goes through a dozen checks
• Medical systems with built-in safety mechanisms
• Educational platforms that automatically monitor content quality

What This Means for Regular People

Even if you're not a programmer, the concept of hooks shows an important trend: AI is becoming more reliable and predictable. Soon, these automatic rules will show up in all AI tools:

• Voice assistants that never forget your preferences
• AI text editors with your personal style rules
• Smart homes that strictly follow your security scenarios

The days of AI assistants that "kinda sorta" follow instructions are numbered. We're moving toward AI that follows rules with the precision of a Swiss watch.

The Bottom Line

Claude Code Hooks aren't just a developer tool — they're a preview of how we'll all interact with AI in the future. Instead of hoping our digital assistants remember what we told them last week, we'll have systems that enforce our preferences automatically.

It's the difference between training a pet and programming a machine. And honestly? That's probably for the best.

P.S. If you set up a hook that makes the AI apologize for every mistake in haiku form, please share the results — that would be absolutely epic! And if you are looking for a useful MCP server, then you are at FastMCP