Built-in tools: Read, Write, Edit, Bash, Grep, Glob
Grep for file contents versus Glob for file paths, Read with offset and limit for large files, Edit's unique-match rule and the Read + Write fallback, incremental exploration from Grep entry points, tracing wrapper modules by exported name, and why Glob and Grep may be absent by default.
Select and apply built-in tools (Read, Write, Edit, Bash, Grep, Glob) effectively
~8 min read · 11 practice questions ·
What the exam expects
- Select Grep to search file contents (callers of a function, error messages, import statements) and Glob to find files by path pattern such as
**/*.test.tsx. - Use Read and Write for whole-file operations and Edit for targeted changes anchored on unique text.
- Recover when Edit fails on a non-unique match: widen the anchor, or Read the full file and Write the complete corrected content.
- Build codebase understanding incrementally (Grep for entry points, Read and follow imports) instead of reading every file upfront, and trace usage through wrapper modules by searching every exported name.
- Know Bash's role and that Glob and Grep are not in Claude Code's default tool set on macOS, Linux and WSL.
Key terms: Grep (searches inside files); Glob (matches file paths); Edit (exact replacement of a unique old_string); Write (creates or overwrites a whole file); entry point (where a targeted search lands before you follow imports); wrapper module (re-exports or wraps a function under other names).
Key facts
- Detail
files_with_matches(default, paths),content(lines with line numbers),count
.gitignore- Detail
- Gitignored files skipped; pass the path to search one
- Detail
- Sorted by modification time, capped at 100 files
- Detail
- Exact string, no regex or fuzzy matching; must appear exactly once
- Detail
- Longer
old_stringorreplace_all: true(replaces all)
- Detail
- Creates or overwrites with full content; never appends or merges
- Detail
- 25,000 tokens per call by default; whole file over 256 KB refused; use
offset/limit
- Detail
- Glob and Grep absent on macOS, Linux, WSL unless named
- Detail
- Read full file, Write complete content
- Why does Glob suit
db/**/*.migration.sqlwhile Grep suits findingimport legacy_auth? - When should an agent switch from Edit to Read plus Write?
- What should an agent do when Read refuses a 40 MB log as too large?
- Why might a Claude Code session on Linux search with Bash
grepinstead of the Grep tool?
The questions are free to read. Answers with their sources and self-grading are included with the pack.
Keep reading with the Claude Certified Architect - Foundations pack
- Core concepts
- Exam traps
- Worked scenario
The pack includes:
- All 30 lessons of the Claude Certified Architect - Foundations guide, with reading progress
- Interactive decision walks and step-by-step sequence steppers
- Inline practice questions and one-click topic practice (11 questions for this lesson)
- An official source cited for every claim
- An AI tutor that answers from the guide
- Unlimited timed practice exams
Practice for the Claude Certified Architect - Foundations exam
Certifyforce is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Anthropic. Claude is a trademark of Anthropic.