Reference · Glossary
Prompt
The instructions and context you give an AI model — your question, task, examples, and constraints.
When to use
Every chat message, system setup, or API call starts with a prompt. Better prompts → better outputs.
When not to
A prompt is not magic — it can't give the model facts it doesn't have unless you provide them or use RAG.
Example
Weak: "Help with my essay."
Strong: "I'm in 10th grade. Summarize chapter 3 of *The Giver* in 5 bullet points. Simple words. No spoilers past chapter 3."