Last updated: April 5, 2026 · Prompting & Usage · by Daniel Ashford
What is Prompt Engineering?
The skill of crafting effective prompts to get the best results from an LLM.
Definition
Prompt engineering is the practice of designing, testing, and refining prompts to optimize the quality, accuracy, and relevance of language model outputs.
How It Works
Key techniques: being specific and explicit, providing context and constraints, using structured output formats, employing chain-of-thought reasoning, providing few-shot examples, specifying what NOT to do, and iterating based on failure modes. Advanced techniques include prompt chaining and self-consistency.
Example
Poor prompt: "Write something about dogs." Good prompt: "Write a 200-word blog post about the health benefits of daily dog walking for seniors. Warm tone. Include 3 health statistics. End with a call to action."
Related Terms
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