token-optimizer

name

token-optimizer

description

Maximize Claude's output quality while minimizing input token usage. Use this skill whenever a user wants to compress prompts, reduce token consumption, extract maximum output from Claude, write high-density instructions, optimize system prompts, or improve AI communication efficiency. Trigger on phrases like "optimize my prompt", "too many tokens", "make this shorter but better", "get more from Claude", "compress this prompt", "write a better system prompt", "token efficient", or any request to improve how someone communicates with Claude or any LLM. Also trigger when building AI-powered tools, chatbots, agents, or any system where prompt cost or quality matters.

Token Optimizer — Maximum Output, Minimum Input

A skill for extracting the highest-quality, most complete responses from Claude using the fewest possible input tokens. Every technique here is tested, practical, and immediately applicable.

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Core Philosophy

Information Density > Verbosity Claude processes meaning, not words. A 40-token instruction that is precise always beats a 200-token instruction that is vague.

The goal is not to "trick" Claude — it is to communicate with maximum clarity and minimum redundancy so Claude spends its compute on output, not parsing.

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The 5 Pillars of Token Optimization

Pillar 1 — Prompt Compression

Strip all filler. Every word must earn its place.

Before (47 tokens):

Could you please analyze the following code and let me know what might be wrong
with it and also suggest how I could fix the issues you find?

After (9 tokens):

debug+fix: [code]

Compression patterns:

Verbose Phrase	Compressed Form
"Please analyze and explain"	analyze:
"Write a detailed explanation of"	explain:
"Can you help me understand"	clarify:
"Please review and improve"	refine:
"Give me a step by step guide"	steps:
"Summarize the key points of"	summarize:
"Compare X and Y in detail"	compare: X vs Y
"Generate multiple options for"	options(5):

Read references/compression-patterns.md for 50+ compression shortcuts across categories.

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Pillar 2 — Output Format Control

Unstructured output is the #1 source of wasted tokens in responses. Explicit format instructions cut response bloat by 30–50%.

Always specify:

• Format type: respond in: bullet points / table / JSON / numbered list / prose
• Length: max: 200 words or max: 5 bullets
• Restrictions: no intro sentence. no conclusion. no rephrasing my question.

Anti-filler instruction (add to any prompt):

Rules: no preamble, no "Great question!", no restating my prompt, no filler conclusions.
Start directly with the answer.

Power combo — role + format + constraint in one line:

You are [role]. Rules: [constraint 1], [constraint 2]. Format: [output format].

Example:

You are a senior Python engineer. Rules: no explanations unless asked, production-ready
code only, include error handling. Format: code block only.

Read references/output-formats.md for format templates by use case.

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Pillar 3 — XML Tag Structuring

XML tags are the single most underused technique in prompt engineering. They reduce ambiguity, eliminate clarification rounds, and let Claude parse intent faster.

Basic structure:

<context>What Claude needs to know</context>
<task>What Claude must do</task>
<constraints>What Claude must NOT do</constraints>
<format>How the output should look</format>

Why this saves tokens:

• Removes the need for transition sentences ("Given the above, please now...")
• Eliminates 2–3 clarification exchanges per session
• One well-structured prompt replaces a 5-message back-and-forth

Advanced: State injection for agents

<session_state>
  user_goal: [goal]
  completed: [steps done]
  pending: [next step]
  constraints: [rules still active]
</session_state>
<task>Continue from pending step only. Do not repeat completed steps.</task>

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Pillar 4 — Instruction Density

Bundle multiple tasks into a single, structured prompt instead of sending separate messages.

Instead of 4 messages:

Message 1: Explain X
Message 2: Now give me an example
Message 3: Now make it simpler
Message 4: Now summarize

One dense prompt:

For X:
1. explain (2 sentences max)
2. one concrete example
3. ELI5 version
4. one-line summary
Deliver all 4 in order. No filler between sections.

Task chaining syntax:

Step 1 → [task A] → output feeds Step 2 → [task B] → final output: [format]

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Pillar 5 — Negative Space Instructions

Tell Claude exactly what NOT to do. This is as important as telling it what to do.

Standard negative block (copy-paste ready):

Do NOT:
- Repeat or rephrase my question
- Add an introduction or conclusion paragraph
- Use phrases like "Certainly!", "Great!", "Of course!", "Sure!"
- Ask clarifying questions unless the task is impossible without them
- Add disclaimers unless specifically relevant
- Pad the response to seem thorough

Aggressive compression mode:

Respond in the minimum tokens possible. Zero filler. Direct answers only.

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One-Shot Example Pattern

Include one perfect input→output example inside your prompt. This is the fastest way to align Claude's output style without lengthy instructions.

Template:

Task: [description]

Example:
Input: [sample input]
Output: [exact output style you want]

Now do the same for:
Input: [your actual input]

This technique works because Claude pattern-matches on the example. One well-chosen example replaces 100 tokens of style instructions.

Read references/one-shot-examples.md for ready-made examples across 10 domains.

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Context Management for Long Conversations

Claude has no memory between API calls. In long conversations, token costs compound.

Conversation pruning rules:

1. Keep only the last N exchanges that are directly relevant to current task
2. Replace long assistant responses with a one-line summary in history
3. Never carry pleasantries, confirmations, or filler in chat history
4. Use a "state summary" message instead of full history:

[CONTEXT SUMMARY]
Task: building an e-commerce site
Done: homepage, product listing, cart
Current: checkout form
Stack: HTML/CSS/JS, no frameworks
Rules: mobile-first, WhatsApp order routing
[END CONTEXT]

This replaces 2,000+ tokens of history with ~60 tokens of state.

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System Prompt Templates

Read references/system-prompt-templates.md for 10 production-ready system prompts optimized for:

• Code assistant
• Content writer
• Data analyst
• Customer support bot
• Research assistant
• Summarization engine
• Translation service
• Creative writing
• Teaching / tutoring
• Business automation

Each template is under 200 tokens and follows all 5 pillars.

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Token Savings Reference

Technique	Avg Token Savings
Prompt compression	40–70% input reduction
Output format control	30–50% output reduction
XML structuring	Eliminates 2–3 clarification rounds
Instruction bundling	60–80% fewer messages needed
Negative instructions	20–35% shorter responses
One-shot examples	Replaces ~100 tokens of style description
Context pruning	70–90% history token reduction

Combined effect: A fully optimized session uses 3–8x fewer tokens than an unoptimized session for the same output quality.

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Quick Reference Card

For the fastest results, apply this formula to any prompt:

[ROLE (1 line)] + [TASK (compressed)] + [FORMAT (explicit)] + [CONSTRAINTS (negative)]

Example:

You are a copywriter. Write 3 email subject lines for a SaaS product launch.
Format: numbered list. No explanations. Max 10 words each. Punchy and curiosity-driven.

That is 34 tokens. Without optimization, this same request often arrives as 120+ tokens with the same output quality.

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Files in This Skill

File	Purpose
SKILL.md	This file — core techniques
references/compression-patterns.md	50+ shorthand compression patterns by category
references/output-formats.md	Format templates for every output type
references/system-prompt-templates.md	10 production-ready system prompts
references/one-shot-examples.md	Ready-made examples for 10 domains
references/context-management.md	Deep guide on conversation state and history pruning
examples/before-after.md	20 real before/after prompt comparisons with token counts