The rule. Build the exploration as a Claude artifact when the question is one self-contained screen of interaction; leave artifacts when the answer needs multiple files, a design system, or production code.
Why. Anthropic's documentation frames artifacts as substantial, standalone content in a dedicated window: single-page HTML sites, SVG images, diagrams, and interactive React components you are likely to edit, iterate on, and reuse (Anthropic, n.d.-a). Two mechanics do the design work. The version selector keeps every iteration, and editing an earlier message forks the conversation into a new direction with its own artifacts, so one chat becomes a parallel exploration tool (Anthropic, n.d.-a). Publishing turns the prototype into a link: anyone can view and interact with a published artifact without a Claude account, and AI-powered artifacts count usage against each user's own subscription, not the creator's (Anthropic, n.d.-a; Anthropic, n.d.-b).
Seen in the wild. Anthropic's help center now tells you to build on someone else's published artifact by copying its code into a new chat; the Remix button is retired, the workflow survives (Anthropic, n.d.-b).
Verified as of 2026-08-20 against current Anthropic Help Center documentation.