Prompt engineering is the systematic process
of designing, refining, and optimizing input prompts to guide large language models (LLMs) toward generating desired outputs.
It requires understanding of both the model's capabilities and the specific task requirements.
Good prompts significantly improve output quality and relevance,
ensure consistent results across similar tasks,
and provide better control over model behavior and output format.
Effective prompts consist of several key components that work together to guide the model:
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Role Definition:
Establish the model's role or persona.
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Task Instructions:
Provide specific, unambiguous instructions.
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Context and Background:
Supply relevant background information.
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Input Data:
Present the data that needs to be processed.
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Output Specifications:
Define the desired format, length, tone, and structure of the response.
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Constraints and Guidelines:
Set boundaries and specify any limitations or requirements.
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Examples (Optional):
Provide sample inputs and outputs to demonstrate expected behavior.
Instructions can take the form of questions, requests, or statements.
They should be clearly defined and specific about the task to be performed.
Instructions can be placed at either the beginning or end of the prompt.
When accuracy is critical, it's best to instruct the model to respond only if it is confident in its answer.
For complex tasks, consider breaking the prompt into smaller, simpler prompts and using them across multiple model calls—a technique known as chain prompting.
The output from one model can be used as input for the next, potentially involving different models at each step.