Does Claude Code have persistent memory? How does it compare to Claude Chat's memory?

Claude Chat can store Memory automatically and surface it later. Projects in Chat also carry instructions and context across chats in that project.

Claude Code does not silently memorize. You persist what matters in files:

• CLAUDE.md — read at session start; put role, goals, tone, current priorities here.
• Supporting files (for example tone.md, projects.md) linked from CLAUDE.md.

Chat memory is convenient but opaque. File-based memory is manual and transparent: you can diff it, version it, and share it. For steady professional use, that tradeoff is usually worth it.