Which CLAUDE.md Files Claude Code Actually Loads (and in What Order)

Claude Code merges memory from four specific scopes, ranging from broadest to narrowest. The lookup order includes shared managed policies in /Library/Application Support/ClaudeCode/CLAUDE.md, user-level settings in ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md, and project-level configurations in ./CLAUDE.md. Additionally, users can utilize modular .claude/rules/ files for selective loading. Proper structuring of these instructions is essential to ensure accurate code generation, maintain predictability, and minimize token consumption across different project levels and sub-directories within the environment.