claude --input-format

Print mode input: text or stream-json.

Example

claude -p --input-format stream-json

Source: Claude Code CLI reference, checked 2026-10-24.

--max-turns: Limit agentic turns in print mode.
--max-budget-usd: Stop a print mode run once estimated spend reaches this amount.
--append-system-prompt: Append text to the default system prompt.

Remember the flag next time

/cards has a flip-card deck for every Claude Code CLI flag.