What it is
A prompt is the text (and sometimes structured data) that frames the task: instructions, examples, constraints, and context.
What makes a good prompt
- Clear goal
- Explicit constraints (format, tone, scope)
- Examples for edge cases
- A way to verify (checklists, tests, tool calls)
Anti-patterns
- Vague instructions ("make it better")
- Overloading the model with irrelevant context