Dynamic Workflows in Claude Code
A dynamic workflow is a JavaScript script that Claude writes to run many subagents at once, and that you can reread and rerun. A runtime executes it in the background while your session stays responsive. It's Claude Code's tool for jobs too big for one conversation: codebase-wide bug sweeps, 500-file migrations, or research that should be cross-checked.
The earlier version described general "adaptive" prompting patterns, some with skills and tools that aren't part of Claude Code. Dynamic workflows are now a documented Claude Code feature, and this page follows that documentation.
Workflow, subagent, skill or agent team?
| Subagents | Skills | Agent teams | Workflows | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A worker Claude spawns | Instructions Claude follows | A lead agent supervising peers | A script the runtime executes |
| Who decides the next step | Claude, turn by turn | Claude | The lead agent | The script |
| Scale | A few tasks per turn | Same as subagents | A handful of peers | Dozens to hundreds of agents per run |
| If interrupted | Restarts the turn | Restarts the turn | Teammates keep running | Resumable in the same session |
Because the plan lives in code, a workflow can also enforce quality patterns, such as having independent agents review each other's findings before they're reported.
Try the bundled one
/deep-research What changed in the Node.js permission model between v20 and v22?
/workflows # list runs; select one to see phases, agent counts, tokens and time/deep-research searches from several angles, fetches and cross-checks sources, and returns a cited report with claims that didn't survive checking removed. Claims it couldn't verify are listed as unverified. Claude Code asks your permission before a workflow runs.
For your own task, ask Claude to write a workflow. Once a run does what you want, save it and it becomes a / command like the bundled one.
Availability and cost
- All paid plans, the Anthropic API, Amazon Bedrock, Google Cloud's Agent Platform and Microsoft Foundry. On Pro, turn it on in the Dynamic workflows row of
/config. - Many agents means many tokens. Watch the per-phase token totals in
/workflows, and remember usage is shared with Claude and Cowork. - ultracode (
/effort ultracode, orTabin the/effortslider) makes Claude orchestrate workflows for substantive tasks automatically, at whichever effort level the session runs at; since Claude Code 2.1.284 it is a separate toggle and no longer forcesxhigh. See effort levels.
Source: Claude Code docs: dynamic workflows. Checked 2026-10-09.
← Back to Claude Cowork FAQ · See also: Skills Guide · Setup Guide