Anatomy of a Prompt · ai-skills

Asking Clearly · Beginner to Intermediate

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A prompt has five parts: task, context, constraints, output format, and examples. Roles label who wrote each part, and a template builder keeps the whole within a token budget.

Part	Carries	Example line
Task	Goal and scope in one verb phrase.	`Explain what this FIFO does in two sentences.`
Context	Facts that change the answer.	`8-deep FIFO between UART RX and core, active-low reset.`
Constraints	Limits that rule answers out.	`Name signals. Stay under 120 words.`
Output format	Shape the answer must take.	`Return lines as KEY: VALUE.`
Examples	Input-output pairs that show the shape.	`Input full=1 gives FUNCTION: backpressure.`

Prompt assembly flow.

Five sections assemble into one prompt, then face a budget check before sending.

Lesson	What it covers
Five parts of a prompt	Task, context, constraints, output format, and examples.
Prompt roles	System, user, and assistant roles as a labeling concept.
Specific and parseable	Specific wording and output formats that parse.
Weak versus strong prompts	Weak-strong pairs for RTL, testbench, and log tasks.
Prompt template builder	A builder that assembles sections and checks a token budget.

Check yourself A draft states the task but gives no context, constraints, format, or examples. Which parts are missing?

Context, constraints, output format, and examples are missing. The task alone leaves scope, limits, shape, and guidance open.

Up nextFive Parts of a Prompt

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