[DOCS] `TaskOutput` tool listed as active but deprecated in v2.1.83; new `Read`-based approach undocumented

Documentation Type

Incorrect/outdated documentation

Documentation Location

https://code.claude.com/docs/en/tools-reference
https://code.claude.com/docs/en/interactive-mode

Section/Topic

tools-reference: The tools table lists TaskOutput without any deprecation notice.

interactive-mode: The "How backgrounding works" section under "Background commands" states that output is retrieved via TaskOutput, but this tool was deprecated in v2.1.83 in favor of using Read on the background task's output file path.

Current Documentation

tools-reference (tools table):

| TaskOutput | Retrieves output from a background task | No |

interactive-mode ("How backgrounding works" key features list):

* Output is buffered and Claude can retrieve it using the TaskOutput tool

What's Wrong or Missing?

Claude Code v2.1.83 deprecated the TaskOutput tool in favor of using the Read tool on the background task's output file path. Two documentation pages still describe TaskOutput as the current mechanism for retrieving background task output, with no indication that it is deprecated:

1. tools-reference.md lists TaskOutput in the active tools table with no deprecation marker.
2. interactive-mode.md instructs users that Claude retrieves buffered background task output using TaskOutput.

Neither page documents the replacement pattern: using Read on the background task's output file path. Users relying on these pages will use a deprecated tool and will not learn the current approach.

Suggested Improvement

tools-reference — mark TaskOutput as deprecated and describe the replacement:

| TaskOutput | ~~Retrieves output from a background task~~ Deprecated in v2.1.83. Use the Read tool on the background task's output file path instead. | No |

Or, if a separate deprecation note is preferred, add a note below the table:

Deprecated tools: TaskOutput was deprecated in v2.1.83. Use Read on the background task's output file path to retrieve background task output.

interactive-mode — replace the TaskOutput reference in the "How backgrounding works" key features list:

Current:

* Output is buffered and Claude can retrieve it using the TaskOutput tool

Suggested:

* Output is written to a file path provided in the background task notification; Claude can retrieve it using the Read tool on that path (TaskOutput was deprecated in v2.1.83)

Both pages should consistently describe the new pattern so users know which approach to use.

Impact

Medium - Makes feature difficult to understand

Additional Context

• Source: Changelog v2.1.83 — "Deprecated TaskOutput tool in favor of using Read on the background task's output file path"
• Affected pages:
• https://code.claude.com/docs/en/tools-reference — tools table row for TaskOutput
• https://code.claude.com/docs/en/interactive-mode — "How backgrounding works" → key features bullet
• The changelog entry for v2.1.71 (March 7, 2026) notes a related bug fix: "Fixed background agent completion notifications missing the output file path, which made it difficult for parent agents to recover agent results after context compaction." This confirms the output file path mechanism was being built out before v2.1.83 formalized it as the replacement for TaskOutput.