Command reference ยท Codex CLI
/skills
Shows available skills and applies the chosen one to the next request
/skills opens an interactive menu in the Codex CLI listing all skills Codex recognizes for the current session. A skill is a folder with a SKILL.md file: a YAML frontmatter block with name and description determines when Codex suggests it, while the rest of the text contains the actual working instructions; this can also include templates, scripts, or reference material.
Codex collects skills from several locations with different scopes: project-related from .codex/skills in the repository, user-related from ~/.agents/skills, plus built-in system skills and, for managed installations, admin-provided skills from /etc/codex/skills. After selection, Codex inserts the full skill text into the next request, so the response follows its instructions.
The command can also be called in the middle of a running task, but not within a side conversation started via /side or /btw, and it does not accept a skill name as an additional argument. Anyone who wants to target a specific skill directly without browsing the menu instead mentions it directly via a $skill-name mention in the message. Custom skills can be built with the bundled $skill-creator skill.
โ WHEN TO USE IT?
Check available skills before a specialized task
/skills โ view the list and choose the matching skill before starting a domain-specific task like a security review
Refine the context for the next step in the middle of a running task
Call /skills during an ongoing conversation โ the chosen skill is inserted into the next request
Check which skills a freshly installed plugin brings
Open /skills after installing a plugin, to see its bundled skills in the list
โ WHEN NOT TO?
Task is trivial and doesn't need special skills
For a simple change, checking available skills is an unnecessary intermediate step.
Better: Formulate the task directly
A known skill should be called directly, without browsing the menu
/skills doesn't support additional arguments like a skill name in the command itself โ every call opens the selection menu for browsing.
Better: Mention the skill directly in the message via a $skill-name mention
SOURCES
- Codex CLI docs: Slash Commands โ learn.chatgpt.com
MORE COMMANDS ยท Codex CLI