Hook Developer

Hook Developer

Complete reference for developing Claude Code hooks. Use this to write hooks with correct input/output schemas.

When to Use

• Creating a new hook
• Debugging hook input/output format
• Understanding what fields are available
• Setting up hook registration in settings.json
• Learning what hooks can block vs inject context

Quick Reference

Hook type options: type: "command" (bash) or type: "prompt" (LLM evaluation)

Hook Input/Output Schemas

PreToolUse

Purpose: Block or modify tool execution before it happens.

Input:

{
  "session_id": "string",
  "transcript_path": "string",
  "cwd": "string",
  "permission_mode": "default|plan|acceptEdits|bypassPermissions",
  "hook_event_name": "PreToolUse",
  "tool_name": "string",
  "tool_input": {
    "file_path": "string",
    "command": "string"
  },
  "tool_use_id": "string"
}

Output (JSON):

{
  "hookSpecificOutput": {
    "hookEventName": "PreToolUse",
    "permissionDecision": "allow|deny|ask",
    "permissionDecisionReason": "string",
    "updatedInput": {}
  },
  "continue": true,
  "stopReason": "string",
  "systemMessage": "string",
  "suppressOutput": true
}

Exit code 2: Blocks tool, stderr shown to Claude.

Common matchers: Bash, Edit|Write, Read, Task, mcp__.*

PostToolUse

Purpose: React to tool execution results, provide feedback to Claude.

Input:

{
  "session_id": "string",
  "transcript_path": "string",
  "cwd": "string",
  "permission_mode": "string",
  "hook_event_name": "PostToolUse",
  "tool_name": "string",
  "tool_input": {},
  "tool_response": {
    "filePath": "string",
    "success": true,
    "output": "string",
    "exitCode": 0
  },
  "tool_use_id": "string"
}

CRITICAL: The response field is tool_response, NOT tool_result.

Output (JSON):

{
  "decision": "block",
  "reason": "string",
  "hookSpecificOutput": {
    "hookEventName": "PostToolUse",
    "additionalContext": "string"
  },
  "continue": true,
  "stopReason": "string",
  "suppressOutput": true
}

Blocking: "decision": "block" with "reason" prompts Claude to address the issue.

Common matchers: Edit|Write, Bash

UserPromptSubmit

Purpose: Validate user prompts, inject context before Claude processes.

Input:

{
  "session_id": "string",
  "transcript_path": "string",
  "cwd": "string",
  "permission_mode": "string",
  "hook_event_name": "UserPromptSubmit",
  "prompt": "string"
}

Output (Plain text):

Any stdout text is added to context for Claude.

Output (JSON):

{
  "decision": "block",
  "reason": "string",
  "hookSpecificOutput": {
    "hookEventName": "UserPromptSubmit",
    "additionalContext": "string"
  }
}

Blocking: "decision": "block" erases prompt, shows "reason" to user only (not Claude).

Exit code 2: Blocks prompt, shows stderr to user only.

PermissionRequest

Purpose: Automate permission dialog decisions.

Input:

{
  "session_id": "string",
  "transcript_path": "string",
  "cwd": "string",
  "permission_mode": "string",
  "hook_event_name": "PermissionRequest",
  "tool_name": "string",
  "tool_input": {}
}

Output:

{
  "hookSpecificOutput": {
    "hookEventName": "PermissionRequest",
    "decision": {
      "behavior": "allow|deny",
      "updatedInput": {},
      "message": "string",
      "interrupt": false
    }
  }
}

SessionStart

Purpose: Initialize session, load context, set environment variables.

Input:

{
  "session_id": "string",
  "transcript_path": "string",
  "cwd": "string",
  "permission_mode": "string",
  "hook_event_name": "SessionStart",
  "source": "startup|resume|clear|compact"
}

Environment variable: CLAUDE_ENV_FILE - write export VAR=value to persist env vars.

Output (Plain text or JSON):

{
  "hookSpecificOutput": {
    "hookEventName": "SessionStart",
    "additionalContext": "string"
  },
  "suppressOutput": true
}

Plain text stdout is added as context.

SessionEnd

Purpose: Cleanup, save state, log session.

Input:

{
  "session_id": "string",
  "transcript_path": "string",
  "cwd": "string",
  "permission_mode": "string",
  "hook_event_name": "SessionEnd",
  "reason": "clear|logout|prompt_input_exit|other"
}

Output: Cannot affect session (already ending). Use for cleanup only.

Stop

Purpose: Control when Claude stops, force continuation.

Input:

{
  "session_id": "string",
  "transcript_path": "string",
  "cwd": "string",
  "permission_mode": "string",
  "hook_event_name": "Stop",
  "stop_hook_active": false
}

CRITICAL: Check stop_hook_active: true to prevent infinite loops!

Output:

{
  "decision": "block",
  "reason": "string"
}

Blocking: "decision": "block" forces Claude to continue with "reason" as prompt.

SubagentStart

Purpose: Run when a subagent (Task tool) is spawned.

Input:

{
  "session_id": "string",
  "transcript_path": "string",
  "cwd": "string",
  "permission_mode": "string",
  "hook_event_name": "SubagentStart",
  "agent_id": "string"
}

Output: Context injection only (cannot block).

SubagentStop

Purpose: Control when subagents (Task tool) stop.

Input:

{
  "session_id": "string",
  "transcript_path": "string",
  "cwd": "string",
  "permission_mode": "string",
  "hook_event_name": "SubagentStop",
  "stop_hook_active": false
}

Output: Same as Stop.

PreCompact

Purpose: Save state before context compaction.

Input:

{
  "session_id": "string",
  "transcript_path": "string",
  "cwd": "string",
  "permission_mode": "string",
  "hook_event_name": "PreCompact",
  "trigger": "manual|auto",
  "custom_instructions": "string"
}

Matchers: manual, auto

Output:

{
  "continue": true,
  "systemMessage": "string"
}

Notification

Purpose: Custom notification handling.

Input:

{
  "session_id": "string",
  "transcript_path": "string",
  "cwd": "string",
  "permission_mode": "string",
  "hook_event_name": "Notification",
  "message": "string",
  "notification_type": "permission_prompt|idle_prompt|auth_success|elicitation_dialog"
}

Matchers: permission_prompt, idle_prompt, auth_success, elicitation_dialog, *

Output:

{
  "continue": true,
  "suppressOutput": true,
  "systemMessage": "string"
}

Registration in settings.json

Standard Structure

{
  "hooks": {
    "EventName": [
      {
        "matcher": "ToolPattern",
        "hooks": [
          {
            "type": "command",
            "command": "$CLAUDE_PROJECT_DIR/.claude/hooks/my-hook.sh",
            "timeout": 60
          }
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

Matcher Patterns