Claude Code: What is the Task Tool?

I ask Claude Code to explain what the Task tool is:

Can you help me understand the built-in Task tool?

I am documenting the response here for future reference.

The Task tool is Claude Code's built-in capability to launch independent agents that can perform autonomous research and analysis tasks. It's designed for:

1. Searching and exploring codebases when you're not sure exactly where to find something
2. Research-heavy tasks that require digesting large amounts of context
3. Parallel processing of independent subtasks
4. Reducing cognitive load on the main conversation thread

When to Use the Task Tool

USE the Task tool when:
- Searching for keywords or files with uncertainty (e.g., "find all config files" or "where is logging implemented?")
- Research tasks requiring extensive file reading and analysis
- Breaking down complex problems into independent subtasks
- You need multiple perspectives on the same problem

DON'T use the Task tool when:
- Reading specific known file paths (use Read tool instead)
- Searching for specific class definitions (use Glob tool instead)
- Writing code or running bash commands
- Working within 2-3 specific files (use Read tool instead)