Model Overview
Claude is a series of AI assistants developed by Anthropic, known for their safety, accuracy, and powerful reasoning capabilities. From the flagship Claude 3.5 Sonnet to the fast Claude 3 Haiku, Claude models excel in code generation, long document analysis, complex reasoning, and more.Dual Compatibility: Supports both OpenAI format and Claude native format, choose according to your preference.
Model Classification
Claude 3.5 Series
Claude 3.5 Sonnet
Claude 3.5 Sonnet
Latest flagship model, strongest overall capabilities
- Core Features:
- 200K context window
- Outstanding code generation capabilities
- Strong reasoning and analysis abilities
- Excellent long document processing
- Supports image understanding
- Pricing:
- Input: $3/1M tokens
- Output: $15/1M tokens
- Suitable Scenarios:
- Complex code generation
- Technical document analysis
- Legal contract review
- Academic research
- Multi-turn complex conversations
Claude 3.5 Haiku
Claude 3.5 Haiku
Fast model, best cost-performance in Claude series
- Core Features:
- 200K context window
- Fastest response speed
- Excellent cost-performance ratio
- Stable and reliable
- Pricing:
- Input: $1/1M tokens
- Output: $5/1M tokens
- Suitable Scenarios:
- Daily conversations
- Quick queries
- Batch processing
- Customer service bots
Claude 3 Series
Claude 3 Opus
Claude 3 Opus
Strongest reasoning capabilities, suitable for most complex tasks
- Core Features:
- 200K context window
- Top-tier reasoning ability
- Strong multimodal understanding
- Excels at complex problem-solving
- Pricing:
- Input: $15/1M tokens
- Output: $75/1M tokens
- Suitable Scenarios:
- Advanced research
- Complex decision analysis
- Professional consulting
- Critical business scenarios
Claude 3 Sonnet
Claude 3 Sonnet
Balanced model with excellent overall performance
- Core Features:
- 200K context window
- Balanced performance and cost
- Strong reasoning ability
- Good image understanding
- Pricing:
- Input: $3/1M tokens
- Output: $15/1M tokens
- Suitable Scenarios:
- Daily business applications
- Document analysis
- Content generation
- Technical support
Claude 3 Haiku
Claude 3 Haiku
Fast and economical, suitable for high-frequency calls
- Core Features:
- 200K context window
- Extremely fast response
- Ultra-low price
- Stable quality
- Pricing:
- Input: $0.25/1M tokens
- Output: $1.25/1M tokens
- Suitable Scenarios:
- Real-time conversations
- Quick queries
- Mass text processing
- Low-budget projects
Usage Methods
Method 1: OpenAI Format (Recommended)
Use the familiar OpenAI SDK, fully compatible:Method 2: Claude Native Format
Use Anthropic’s official SDK for more native experience:Application Scenarios
1. Code Generation and Review
Claude 3.5 Sonnet excels at code-related tasks:2. Long Document Analysis
Leverage Claude’s 200K context window to process long documents:3. Complex Data Analysis
4. Creative Writing
5. Image Understanding
Claude 3 series models support image understanding:Claude’s Unique Advantages
1. Built-in Safety
Claude models have strong content safety filtering built-in, effectively reducing risks of generating inappropriate content
- Automatically identifies and refuses harmful requests
- Reduces risk of generating biased content
- Suitable for scenarios with high safety requirements
2. Precise Instruction Following
Claude excels at understanding and executing complex, multi-step instructions:3. Deep Reasoning Ability
Claude excels at handling problems requiring complex reasoning:- Mathematical proof
- Logical reasoning
- Ethical dilemma analysis
- Strategy planning
4. Excellent Multilingual Ability
Claude has excellent language capabilities beyond English:Usage Tips
1. Choose the Right Model
Scenario | Recommended Model | Reason |
---|---|---|
Code generation | Claude 3.5 Sonnet | Strongest code capabilities |
Long documents | Claude 3.5 Sonnet | 200K context |
Daily conversations | Claude 3.5 Haiku | Cost-effective, fast |
Complex reasoning | Claude 3 Opus | Strongest reasoning |
Batch processing | Claude 3 Haiku | Fastest speed, lowest price |
Professional consulting | Claude 3.5 Sonnet | Accurate and reliable |
2. Optimize Prompts
Structured Instructions
Structured Instructions
Use numbered lists or step-by-step descriptions:
Provide Context
Provide Context
Give sufficient background information:
Specify Output Format
Specify Output Format
Clearly state the desired output format:
3. Parameter Tuning
Control output randomness:
0-0.3
: Very deterministic (code, analysis, facts)0.7
: Balanced (general conversation)1.0-1.5
: More creative (creative writing, brainstorming)
Control output length:
- Code generation: 1000-2000
- Article writing: 2000-4000
- Detailed analysis: 4000-8000
Alternative to temperature:
0.9
: Balanced0.95
: More diverse- Generally use either temperature or top_p, not both
Cost Optimization
1. Model Selection Strategy
Development Phase
Use Claude 3.5 Haiku
- Fast testing iteration
- Low cost
- Quick feedback
Production Phase
Choose based on needs:
- Simple tasks → 3.5 Haiku
- Complex tasks → 3.5 Sonnet
- Critical tasks → 3 Opus
2. Context Management
3. Caching Strategy
For repeated queries, consider caching results:Error Handling
Common Errors and Solutions
429: Rate Limit
429: Rate Limit
Solution: Implement exponential backoff retry
400: Invalid Request
400: Invalid Request
Common Causes:
- Incorrect model name
- Message format error
- Parameter out of range
500/502: Server Error
500/502: Server Error
Solution: Implement retry with delay
Best Practices
1. System Prompt Best Practices
2. Multi-turn Conversation Management
3. Streaming Response
For long responses, use streaming for better user experience:Compare with GPT-4
Dimension | Claude 3.5 Sonnet | GPT-4o |
---|---|---|
Price | $3/1M (input) | $2.5/1M (input) |
Context | 200K tokens | 128K tokens |
Code Generation | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Reasoning Ability | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Safety | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Multilingual | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Response Speed | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Instruction Following | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Recommendation:
- Code generation and review → Claude 3.5 Sonnet
- Image understanding → GPT-4o
- Long document analysis → Claude 3.5 Sonnet (larger context)
- Multilingual support → GPT-4o
- Cost-sensitive → Claude 3.5 Haiku
Related Resources
- Chat Completions API - Complete API documentation
- OpenAI Models - GPT series models guide
- Gemini Models - Google Gemini models guide
- Pricing - Detailed model pricing information