What is Prompt?
TL;DR
The input text or instructions given to an AI model. A critical factor that shapes the quality of AI outputs.
Prompt: Definition & Explanation
A prompt is the input text or instruction given to an AI model. It encompasses everything from questions and commands to contextual information and examples — anything that communicates what you want the AI to do. Because the same AI model can produce very different outputs depending on how the prompt is written, designing effective prompts (prompt engineering) has become an important skill. Prompts come in two main types: system prompts (which define the AI's behavior) and user prompts (specific questions or instructions). With conversational AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, writing more specific and clear prompts makes it easier to get the desired response. In business settings, organizations are increasingly using prompt templates to standardize quality and boost efficiency.