List of messagesArray of messages for the model to generate the next response. Each message contains role and content fields.💡 Quick fill (Try it area):
Click ”+ Add an item” to add a message
role input: user (user message) or assistant (AI response, for multi-turn)
Role typeOptions: user (user message), assistant (AI response, for multi-turn conversations and prefilling)Note: Claude API uses a separate system parameter for system prompts, not in messages
[ {"role": "user", "content": "Hello there."}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "Hi, I'm Claude. How can I help you?"}, {"role": "user", "content": "Can you explain LLMs in plain English?"}]
Prefilled assistant response:
[ {"role": "user", "content": "What's the Greek name for Sun? (A) Sol (B) Helios (C) Sun"}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "The best answer is ("}]
Maximum tokens to generateMaximum number of tokens to generate before stopping. The model may stop before reaching this limit.Different models have different maximum values. Minimum: 1
messages = [ {"role": "user", "content": "What is machine learning?"}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "Machine learning is a branch of AI..."}, {"role": "user", "content": "Can you give a practical example?"}]message = client.messages.create( model="claude-sonnet-4-6", max_tokens=1024, messages=messages)
message = client.messages.create( model="claude-sonnet-4-6", max_tokens=1024, system="You are a senior Python developer expert in code review and optimization.", messages=[ {"role": "user", "content": "How to optimize this code?\n\n[code]"} ])
with client.messages.stream( model="claude-sonnet-4-6", max_tokens=1024, messages=[ {"role": "user", "content": "Write a short essay about AI"} ]) as stream: for text in stream.text_stream: print(text, end="", flush=True)
system = """You are an experienced data scientist specializing in:- Statistical analysis and data visualization- Machine learning model development- Python and R programmingProvide professional, accurate advice."""
Structured output:
message = "Please return the analysis results in JSON format with summary, key_findings, and recommendations fields."
# Guide model to specific formatmessages = [ {"role": "user", "content": "List 5 Python best practices"}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "Here are 5 Python best practices:\n\n1."}]message = client.messages.create( model="claude-sonnet-4-6", max_tokens=1024, messages=messages)