Command reference ยท Codex CLI
/side
Starts a temporary side chat without disturbing the main chat.
Starts an ephemeral side conversation without interrupting the main conversation. In the Codex CLI's open-source code, the command is literally described as "start a side conversation in an ephemeral fork"; /btw also works as an alias.
You can attach a message directly, e.g. /side how do I export this as CSV? โ then the side conversation starts immediately with that content instead of opening an empty input first. Within an active side conversation, only a few additional commands are available according to the source code, such as /copy, /diff, /status, /usage, /mention, or /ide โ most other slash commands remain reserved for the main conversation. According to Codex release rust-v0.145.0 (07/21/2026), a reliability bug was also fixed shortly before this was written: side conversations no longer incorrectly inherit turns, and a race condition at startup was removed. The command appears both in the terminal CLI table and in the general app composer overview.
โ WHEN TO USE IT?
Split off a quick side question
/side how do I export this table as CSV? โ the answer doesn't end up in the main conversation.
Start directly with content
/side give me the syntax for a git rebase quickly, so I can keep working in the main conversation.
โ WHEN NOT TO?
The answer needs to land in the main conversation
According to the source code, /side works in its own ephemeral fork, separate from the main conversation.
Better: ask the question directly in the main chat
Additional slash commands are needed in the side conversation
In the source code, only a small command list (including /copy, /diff, /status, /usage) is enabled for active side conversations.
Better: switch back to the main chat, where all commands are available
SOURCES
- Codex CLI docs: Slash Commands โ learn.chatgpt.com
MORE COMMANDS ยท Codex CLI