# Plan mode vs direct execution

*Claude Certified Architect - Foundations Study Guide · Claude Code Configuration & Workflows · Last updated October 22, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/claude-certified-architect-foundations/claude-code-configuration-and-workflows/plan-mode-vs-direct-execution*

When to plan first and when to just make the change in Claude Code: the one-sentence-diff test, entering and defaulting to plan mode, the approval options and Ctrl+G, plan-then-execute, and the built-in Explore and Plan subagents that keep verbose discovery out of the main context.

- Certification: Claude Certified Architect - Foundations
- Exam section: Claude Code Configuration & Workflows
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/claude-certified-architect-foundations

**Official exam objective:**

> Determine when to use plan mode vs direct execution

## What the exam expects

- Choose plan mode for work with architectural implications, several valid approaches, many files or unfamiliar code, and direct execution for a clearly scoped change such as a single-file bug fix with a stack trace.
- Enter plan mode the right way for the situation: `Shift+Tab`, a `/plan` prefix, `--permission-mode plan`, or a committed `permissions.defaultMode` for a whole project.
- Pick the right option at the plan approval prompt, and edit a plan before any file changes.
- Combine plan mode for investigation with direct execution for implementation.
- Use the built-in Explore subagent to keep verbose discovery from exhausting the main context in multi-phase tasks.

Key terms: **plan mode** (a permission mode in which Claude researches and proposes but does not edit source until you approve); **direct execution** (asking Claude to make the change straight away in an editing mode); **plan approval prompt** (the choice Claude shows when a plan is ready); **Explore subagent** (a built-in, read-only research agent that returns a summary); **Plan subagent** (the built-in research agent plan mode delegates to).

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Skip-the-plan test | If you could describe the diff in one sentence, skip the plan | [Best practices](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/best-practices) |
| Edits in plan mode | Blocked until the plan is approved | [Choose a permission mode](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/permission-modes) |
| Enter plan mode | `Shift+Tab`, `/plan` prefix, `claude --permission-mode plan` | [Choose a permission mode](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/permission-modes) |
| Project default | `permissions.defaultMode: "plan"` in `.claude/settings.json` | [Choose a permission mode](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/permission-modes) |
| Edit a plan directly | `Ctrl+G` opens it in your default text editor | [Choose a permission mode](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/permission-modes) |
| "No, keep planning" | Stays in plan mode so you can tell Claude what to change | [Choose a permission mode](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/permission-modes) |
| Approving a plan | Exits plan mode into the chosen option's mode | [Choose a permission mode](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/permission-modes) |
| Explore tools | Read-only; Write and Edit denied | [Create custom subagents](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/sub-agents) |
| Explore and Plan startup | Start without CLAUDE.md files and git status | [Create custom subagents](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/sub-agents) |
| CLAUDE.md | Context, not enforced configuration | [How Claude remembers your project](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/memory) |

## Check yourself

- When should you skip plan mode entirely?
- Why does plan mode beat a "do not edit files" line in CLAUDE.md for exploring legacy code?
- Which setting makes every terminal session in a repository start in plan mode?
- Why delegate a large discovery phase to Explore?

## Sources

- [Choose a permission mode](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/permission-modes)
- [Best practices for Claude Code](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/best-practices)
- [Create custom subagents](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/sub-agents)
- [Common workflows](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/common-workflows)
- [How Claude remembers your project](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/memory)
- [Claude Certified Architect – Foundations Exam Guide v1.0](https://everpath-course-content.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/instructor%2F6nizmqk8tpzpfjvt6qmmav7rh%2Fpublic%2F1783542750%2FClaude+Certified+Architect+%E2%80%93+Foundations+Exam+Guide.pdf)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 11 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Claude Certified Architect - Foundations pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams