claude --output-format

Print mode output: text, json or stream-json.

Example

claude -p "query" --output-format json

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

--input-format: Print mode input: text or stream-json.
--max-turns: Limit agentic turns in print mode.
--max-budget-usd: Stop a print mode run once estimated spend reaches this amount.

Remember the flag next time

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