Another Useful Hook
Chaining Multiple Hooks for Layered Protection
Real-world projects benefit from multiple hooks working together. You can chain pre-hooks for security and post-hooks for quality, creating a comprehensive safety net that catches issues at every stage of Claude's tool use.
// .claude/settings.local.json
{
"hooks": {
"preToolUse": [
{
"matcher": "read|grep",
"command": "node ./hooks/block_secrets.js"
},
{
"matcher": "bash",
"command": "node ./hooks/validate_commands.js"
}
],
"postToolUse": [
{
"matcher": "edit|write",
"command": "node ./hooks/type_check.js"
},
{
"matcher": "edit",
"command": "node ./hooks/dedup_check.js"
}
]
}
}| Layer | Hook Type | Purpose | Tools Watched |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security | Pre-hook | Block access to secrets and sensitive files | read, grep |
| Safety | Pre-hook | Validate shell commands before execution | bash |
| Type Safety | Post-hook | Catch type errors after every edit | edit, write |
| Code Quality | Post-hook | Detect duplicate code in critical dirs | edit |
A complete hook stack for production projects
Start Simple, Add Gradually
Don't implement all hooks at once. Start with the type checker hook (highest value, lowest cost), then add the .env guard, then consider deduplication for critical directories. Each hook adds latency, so find the right balance for your workflow.
Key Takeaways
- ✓Chain multiple pre-hooks (security) and post-hooks (quality) for layered protection
- ✓Pre-hooks guard: block secret access, validate commands before execution
- ✓Post-hooks enforce: type checking after edits, duplicate detection in critical directories
- ✓Start with the type checker hook (highest value), then add more as needed
- ✓Each hook adds latency -- balance coverage with development speed
Check Your Understanding
Test what you learned in this lesson.
Q1.In a layered hook setup, what is the recommended order to add hooks to your project?
Q2.Which combination provides the most comprehensive hook protection?
Q3.Why do hooks add latency to Claude Code?