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How to use Claude API for batch processing

Q: How to use Claude API for batch processing

Use the anthropic Python SDK to send multiple prompts in a loop or batch by calling client.messages.create for each input. Batch processing involves iterating over your inputs and collecting responses asynchronously or synchronously with the claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022 model.

Quick answer

Use the anthropic Python SDK to send multiple prompts in a loop or batch by calling client.messages.create for each input. Batch processing involves iterating over your inputs and collecting responses asynchronously or synchronously with the claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022 model.

PREREQUISITES

Python 3.8+
Anthropic API key
pip install anthropic>=0.20

Setup

Install the Anthropic Python SDK and set your API key as an environment variable.

bash

pip install anthropic>=0.20

Step by step

This example demonstrates batch processing by sending multiple prompts to Claude in a loop and collecting their responses synchronously.

python

import os
import anthropic

client = anthropic.Anthropic(api_key=os.environ["ANTHROPIC_API_KEY"])

prompts = [
    "Explain the theory of relativity in simple terms.",
    "Summarize the plot of 'To Kill a Mockingbird'.",
    "What are the benefits of renewable energy?"
]

responses = []

for prompt in prompts:
    message = client.messages.create(
        model="claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022",
        max_tokens=300,
        system="You are a helpful assistant.",
        messages=[{"role": "user", "content": prompt}]
    )
    responses.append(message.content[0].text)

for i, response in enumerate(responses, 1):
    print(f"Response {i}:\n{response}\n")

output

Response 1:
The theory of relativity, developed by Albert Einstein, explains how space and time are linked for objects moving at a consistent speed in a straight line...

Response 2:
'To Kill a Mockingbird' is a novel about racial injustice and childhood innocence in the American South, narrated by Scout Finch...

Response 3:
Renewable energy sources like solar and wind reduce greenhouse gas emissions, decrease dependence on fossil fuels, and promote sustainable development...

Common variations

Use asynchronous calls with asyncio and the Anthropic SDK for parallel batch processing.
Adjust max_tokens and model parameters for different use cases.
Implement error handling and retries for robust batch processing.

python

import os
import asyncio
import anthropic

client = anthropic.Anthropic(api_key=os.environ["ANTHROPIC_API_KEY"])

async def fetch_response(prompt):
    return await client.messages.acreate(
        model="claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022",
        max_tokens=300,
        system="You are a helpful assistant.",
        messages=[{"role": "user", "content": prompt}]
    )

async def main():
    prompts = [
        "Explain quantum computing.",
        "List benefits of meditation.",
        "Describe the water cycle."
    ]
    tasks = [fetch_response(p) for p in prompts]
    results = await asyncio.gather(*tasks)
    for i, message in enumerate(results, 1):
        print(f"Response {i}:\n{message.content[0].text}\n")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    asyncio.run(main())

output

Response 1:
Quantum computing uses quantum bits that can represent multiple states simultaneously, enabling faster problem solving for certain tasks...

Response 2:
Meditation improves mental clarity, reduces stress, and enhances emotional well-being...

Response 3:
The water cycle describes how water evaporates, condenses into clouds, and precipitates back to Earth...

Troubleshooting

If you receive authentication errors, verify your ANTHROPIC_API_KEY environment variable is set correctly.
For rate limit errors, implement exponential backoff and retry logic.
Ensure your prompts are within token limits to avoid truncation or errors.

✅

Key Takeaways

Use a loop or async calls to batch process multiple prompts with the Anthropic SDK.
Set the system parameter to guide Claude's behavior consistently across batch requests.
Handle API errors and rate limits to ensure reliable batch processing.

Verified 2026-04 · claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022

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