Skills vs Slash Commands in Gemini CLI
Understanding the difference between slash commands and skills in Gemini CLI.
Slash Commands
Slash commands are built-in functionalities of the Gemini CLI, used for controlling the CLI itself. They are directly invoked by the user.
Examples:
/chat- Switch chat sessions/clear- Clear the conversation/settings- Access settings
Skills
Skills are extensions that provide specialized expertise, workflows, and resources to the Gemini agent. The agent autonomously decides when to use a skill based on your request, and with your consent, injects the skill’s instructions and resources into the conversation.
Key characteristics:
- Self-contained packages of instructions and assets
- Extend the agent’s capabilities for complex or niche tasks
- Agent-controlled (not directly invoked by user)
- Provide domain-specific knowledge and workflows
The Key Difference
| Slash Commands | Skills |
|---|---|
| User-invoked | Agent-autonomous |
| Control CLI functionality | Provide specialized expertise |
| Built-in | Extensible packages |
Skills represent a more advanced pattern where the AI can pull in specialized knowledge and workflows when it determines they’re relevant to your task.