Pasting items on Claude

If you paste more than 600 words into Claude, it’ll add it as an attachment instead of putting it all into the input field.

Behind this Bite

This helps to keep the input section clear for your actual question (i.e., they’ve assumed your pasting something to read / process, and not a question itself).

AI insights

Insights

Cognitive Load is the working memory needed to complete a task. By attaching long pastes instead of filling the input, Claude lowers cognitive load, so users can focus on their actual question.
Law of Minimal Effort says people prefer actions that require less work. Claude’s attachment method means users don’t have to scroll or edit a huge pasted block, making the process feel lighter.
Selective Attention is when users only process what’s easy to see. By keeping the input field clear, Claude helps users spot their question and context fast, especially when multitasking.
Speechify uses a similar pattern, by auto-pasting a copied URL into the field. Both reduce friction for users who just want to get their content processed quickly.
Figma shows a "Pasting" message if loading is slow, reassuring users. Both Figma and Claude manage copy-paste actions to cut confusion and keep users calm during longer tasks.