prompt-engineering

name	prompt-engineering
description	Prompt design techniques for LLMs: structure, examples, reasoning patterns, and optimization. Invoke whenever task involves any interaction with AI instructions — crafting, debugging, improving, or evaluating prompts for skills, agents, output styles, or system configurations.

Prompt Engineering

Every prompt is an interface contract — clarity of intent determines quality of output. Apply when crafting skills, agents, output styles, system prompts, or any AI instructions.

Read first when

• You are writing a prompt for another model (skill, subagent, system prompt, agent instruction, output style) → load [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/agent-authored-prompts.md] BEFORE drafting. Agent-authored prompts have distinct failure modes (over-specification, context leakage, ambiguous output contracts, silent degradation across pipeline stages) that the diagnostic table below does NOT cover. The summary in Writing Prompts as an Agent is incomplete — the reference holds the workflow.

What's Wrong With Your Prompt?

• Wrong format — add explicit format + example. See Output Format
• Missing information — be more specific about what to include. See Be Specific
• Hallucination — add context, request citations. See Provide Context
• Ignores instructions — place critical rules at top and end, use XML tags. See Persistent Context
• Complex reasoning fails — use extended thinking or CoT. See Reasoning
• Inconsistent results — add 3-5 examples. See Examples
• Too verbose — specify word/sentence limits. See Be Specific
• Security concerns — validate input, filter output. See [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/security.md]

References

• Reasoning techniques — [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/reasoning-techniques.md] CoT variants (zero-shot, few-shot, auto), Tree-of-Thoughts, Self-Consistency, extended thinking (adaptive + manual), reasoning models (o3/o4-mini), CRANE constrained reasoning, academic citations
• Learning paradigms — [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/learning-paradigms.md] ICL theory, zero/few-shot techniques, example selection research, generated knowledge prompting, active prompting
• Workflow patterns — [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/workflow-patterns.md] Prompt chaining topologies, iterative refinement, meta prompting, APE, automated optimization survey
• Prompt security — [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/security.md] OWASP Top 10 for LLM 2025, injection defense, agentic pipeline security, threat modeling, defense patterns
• Optimization strategies — [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/optimization-strategies.md] Promptware engineering lifecycle, DSPy declarative optimization, RAG integration, manual iteration discipline
• Claude-specific — [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/claude-specific.md] Adaptive thinking, effort parameter, prefilling, prompt caching (automatic + explicit, 1-hour TTL), structured outputs, context windows, technique combinations
• Long context — [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/long-context.md] Document organization patterns, XML structuring for multi-doc, chunking strategies, context rot mitigation
• Agent & tool patterns — [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/agent-patterns.md] ReAct, PAL, Reflexion, ART, ACE implementation patterns, failure modes, pattern selection
• Agent-authored prompts — [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/agent-authored-prompts.md] Agents writing prompts: decomposition workflow, quality dimensions, failure modes, SPL pattern, pipeline rules
• Persistent context — [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/persistent-context.md] Technique transfer to skills/system prompts, instruction degradation research, format sensitivity, declarative vs procedural, U-shaped attention, minimalism principle
• Structured data formats — [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/structured-data-formats.md] Format benchmarks (KV vs table vs YAML vs JSON), TOON verdict, output format restrictions, CFPO, format selection rules
• Context engineering — [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/context-engineering.md] The discipline beyond prompts: context types, quality principles, retrieval strategies, management patterns, layered architecture

Read the relevant reference before proceeding.

---

Core Techniques

Start with the simplest technique that fits the problem. Most issues are solved by the first three.

Be Clear and Direct

The golden rule: show your prompt to a colleague with minimal context. If they're confused, Claude will be too.

Provide Context

Tell Claude:

• What the task results will be used for
• Who the audience is
• What success looks like

Be Specific

• "Summarize this" → "Summarize in 3 bullets, each under 20 words"
• "Make it better" → "Fix grammar errors, reduce word count by 30%"
• "Analyze the data" → "Calculate YoY growth, identify top 3 trends"

Output Format

Always specify format explicitly. Show an example if structure matters:

Extract the following as JSON:
- Product name
- Price (number only)
- In stock (boolean)

Example output:
{"name": "Widget Pro", "price": 29.99, "in_stock": true}

Use Examples (Few-Shot)

3-5 examples typically sufficient. Cover edge cases. Format consistency and input distribution matter more than perfect label accuracy. Performance plateaus after 8-16 examples.

Example selection rules:

• Cover diversity — represent different categories, edge cases, styles
• Order simple to complex — build understanding progressively
• Balance output classes — equal representation across categories
• Put representative examples last — recency bias makes later examples more influential
• Prioritize format consistency over perfect labeling
• Wrap in <examples> tags for clear separation
• In system context, examples at the start outperform those placed later (primacy bias)

Choosing the right paradigm:

• Simple, well-known task → zero-shot (just ask)
• Need specific output format → one-shot (1 example)
• Complex classification / nuanced judgment → few-shot (3-5 examples)
• Domain-specific task → few-shot with domain examples
• Highly nuanced + complex reasoning → few-shot + CoT

Extended paradigm details and ICL theory: see [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/learning-paradigms.md].

Use XML Tags

Separate components for clarity and parseability:

<instructions>
Analyze the contract for risks.
</instructions>

<contract>
{{CONTRACT_TEXT}}
</contract>

<output_format>
List risks in <risks> tags, recommendations in <recommendations>.
</output_format>

• Use consistent tag names throughout the prompt
• Reference tags in instructions: "Using the contract in <contract>..."
• Nest for hierarchy: <outer><inner>...</inner></outer>
• Critical for multi-component prompts — significantly improves instruction following

Reasoning

For complex reasoning, ask Claude to show its work:

Think through this in <thinking> tags.
Then provide your answer in <answer> tags.

Critical: Claude must output its thinking. Without outputting the thought process, no thinking actually occurs.

Reasoning models (Claude adaptive thinking, OpenAI o-series):

• These models reason internally — do NOT add "think step by step" (it's redundant and may degrade quality)
• Prefer general instructions ("think thoroughly") over prescriptive step-by-step plans
• Use <thinking> tags in few-shot examples to demonstrate desired reasoning style
• Ask for self-verification: "Before finishing, verify your answer against [criteria]"
• Use the effort parameter to control reasoning depth, not prompt-level CoT

Standard models (no native reasoning):

• Use explicit CoT when the problem requires multi-step reasoning
• Use extended thinking when the problem requires exploring multiple approaches
• Use neither for simple factual tasks

CoT trade-off: helpful for structural formatting and complex logic; harmful for tasks with many mechanical constraints (word limits, format rules).

Detailed techniques, ToT, self-consistency: see [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/reasoning-techniques.md].

Use Sequential Steps

For multi-step tasks, number the steps:

1. Replace customer names with "CUSTOMER_[ID]"
2. Replace emails with "EMAIL_[ID]@example.com"
3. Redact phone numbers as "PHONE_[ID]"
4. Leave product names intact
5. Output only processed messages, separated by "---"

Cap at ~10-15 steps per sequence; beyond that, decompose into sub-procedures (Hierarchical Task Networks).

---

Structured Data in Prompts

Format choice measurably affects LLM accuracy — up to 16pp between best and worst formats on identical content.

• Key-value lists for lookup/routing data where entries are independent — +8.8pp accuracy over tables
• Markdown tables only for genuinely 2D comparisons where cross-criteria scanning IS the point
• YAML for deeply nested data (configs, hierarchies) — best accuracy for nested structures
• Avoid CSV, JSONL, XML for input data — consistently underperform alternatives

Test: if removing a column would lose comparative meaning → table. Otherwise → KV list.

Output format restrictions degrade reasoning. Use structured output only when downstream consumers require it; prefer post-processing free-form output for reasoning-heavy tasks.

Full benchmarks and selection rules: see [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/structured-data-formats.md].

---

Choosing a Technique

• Simple task, clear format → zero-shot with clear instructions
• Consistent output format → few-shot (3-5 examples)
• Complex reasoning → CoT (standard models) or extended thinking (reasoning models)
• Very complex / exploratory → extended thinking with high effort
• Multi-step workflow → prompt chaining. See [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/workflow-patterns.md]
• External information needed → ReAct. See [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/agent-patterns.md]
• Precise calculation → PAL (generate code). See [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/agent-patterns.md]
• Multi-attempt allowed → Reflexion. See [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/agent-patterns.md]

---

Worked Example: Diagnosing and Fixing a Prompt

**Original prompt:** ``` You are a helpful assistant. Analyze this code and give me feedback. Make sure to be thorough. Also format it nicely. ```

Diagnosis:

• Wrong format → no explicit format specified
• Missing information → "feedback" and "thorough" are vague
• Ignores instructions → "format it nicely" is ambiguous

Fixed prompt:

<instructions>
Review the provided code for three categories of issues:
1. Bugs — logic errors, off-by-one, null handling
2. Security — injection, auth bypass, data exposure
3. Performance — unnecessary allocations, O(n^2) loops
</instructions>

<output_format>
For each issue found, return:
- **Location:** file:line
- **Category:** Bug | Security | Performance
- **Severity:** Critical | Major | Minor
- **Fix:** concrete code change (not just description)

If no issues found in a category, state "None found."
</output_format>

<code>
{{CODE}}
</code>

What changed: vague task → specific categories. No format → explicit structure. Persona removed (adds no value). Single paragraph → XML-separated components.

---

Prompting in Persistent Context

Techniques behave differently in persistent context (skills, system prompts, CLAUDE.md) vs. one-shot user messages.

• Place critical rules at top and end of context. The U-shaped attention curve makes the middle the worst location.
• Prefer declarative bullets over numbered procedures — except when ordering matters; cap sequences at ~10-15 steps.
• Prime the domain, don't assign a persona. "This is a security review task" beats "You are an expert auditor."
• Format swings compliance up to 40%. XML tags and Markdown headers beat prose; JSON/YAML are for data, not instructions.
• Every instruction must earn its place. Apply the deletion test: if removing it doesn't change output, remove it.

Full research synthesis: see [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/persistent-context.md].

---

Claude-Specific Rules

Adaptive Thinking and Effort

Claude 4.6 models use adaptive thinking — Claude dynamically determines when and how deeply to reason:

{ "thinking": { "type": "adaptive" }, "effort": "high" }

• effort levels: max (deepest, Opus/Sonnet 4.6 only), high (default), medium, low
• Effort affects all tokens: text, tool calls, and thinking
• At high/max, Claude almost always thinks; at low, it may skip thinking for simple queries
• budget_tokens is deprecated on 4.6 models — use effort + adaptive thinking instead

Prefilling

Start Claude's response to control format by including a partial assistant message:

• Force JSON: prefill with {
• Skip preamble: prefill with the opening sentence
• Force XML wrapper: prefill with <result>
• Deprecated on 4.6 models but still functional on older models

Prompt Caching

Cache stable context to cut latency and cost. Two modes: automatic (top-level cache_control) and explicit (block-level breakpoints). Key rules:

• Up to 4 breakpoints per request; 5-minute TTL (default) or 1-hour TTL
• Cache read: 0.1x input price. Cache write: 1.25x (5-min) or 2x (1-hour)
• Place breakpoint on the last block that stays identical across requests
• Cache invalidation hierarchy: tools → system → messages

Structured Outputs

Constrained decoding guaranteeing schema-compliant JSON. Use output_config.format for response format or strict: true on tool definitions. Incompatible with citations and prefilling. Grammar applies only to final text output — thinking is unconstrained.

Full API details and technique combinations: see [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/claude-specific.md].

---

Context Engineering

Context engineering is the 2026 evolution beyond prompt engineering — designing dynamic systems that provide the right information and tools, in the right format, at the right time.

Key distinction: prompt engineering crafts a single text string; context engineering manages all inputs to the model — system prompts, conversation history, retrieved documents, tool results, memory.

Core principles:

• Most agent failures are context failures, not model failures
• Find the smallest set of high-signal tokens that maximizes the desired outcome
• Treat context as a finite resource with diminishing marginal returns
• Organize context into explicit labeled sections for model parseability

Management patterns:

• Compaction — summarize nearing-limit context; preserve decisions and open questions, discard raw tool outputs
• Structured note-taking — agent writes selective notes to persistent storage for state continuity
• Multi-agent isolation — sub-agents handle deep dives in clean contexts; return condensed summaries
• Just-in-time retrieval — load identifiers upfront, fetch full content on demand via tools

Full depth: see [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/context-engineering.md].

---

Long Context Rules

When working with 20K+ token documents:

• Documents at the top, query at the bottom — exploits the U-shaped attention curve
• Wrap each document in XML tags with identifying metadata (source, type, date)
• Ground responses in quotes — ask Claude to quote relevant passages before answering
• Remove noise before including documents — strip boilerplate, headers, navigation
• Place instructions at the end after all documents

Document organization, chunking strategies: see [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/long-context.md].

---

Prompt Chaining Rules

When a single prompt produces error propagation, decompose into a chain of simpler prompts:

• Single responsibility — each prompt does one thing well
• Clear interfaces — define what each step receives and produces
• Validation points — check output before passing to next step
• Chain when there's a natural validation boundary — avoid over-chaining

Chain topologies, meta prompting, APE: see [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/workflow-patterns.md].

---

When Prompting Isn't Enough

Start with prompt engineering. If quality plateaus, consider:

• RAG — need current/accurate external data the model doesn't have
• DSPy — metric-driven automatic prompt optimization for complex pipelines with labeled eval data
• Fine-tuning — need deep domain expertise prompting can't achieve

These compose — combine as needed. Treat prompts as software: version them, test them, monitor them in production.

Strategy comparison, DSPy details, production quality gates: see [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/optimization-strategies.md].

---

Security Rules

When a prompt handles untrusted input (user-provided content, web scraping, external documents):

• Mark trust boundaries — separate trusted instructions from untrusted data with delimiters
• Harden the system prompt — explicit boundaries, sandwich defense (repeat critical instructions after user content)
• Validate input — flag instruction-override patterns, unusual length, encoding attempts
• Filter output — block responses containing sensitive data patterns
• Apply least privilege — give the LLM access only to data and tools it needs
• Require human approval for sensitive or destructive actions

Prompt injection cannot be fully prevented — defense is about reducing attack surface, limiting blast radius, and detecting incidents.

OWASP Top 10, attack taxonomy, defense patterns: see [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/security.md].

---

Writing Prompts as an Agent

STOP — load [${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/agent-authored-prompts.md] before drafting. The summary below is orientation only; the reference holds the decomposition workflow, failure-mode taxonomy, and pipeline rules required to write a non-broken agent prompt.

When you (the AI) are authoring a prompt for another model to execute — skills, system prompts, subagent instructions:

• Treat prompts as programs — define signature (inputs, outputs, success criteria) before writing text
• Decompose into components, scaffold with XML, then draft
• Every generated prompt must be self-contained — the receiving agent has zero knowledge of your context
• Include explicit output format with a concrete example, not just a description
• Embed validation criteria the receiving agent can self-check against
• Sanitize all user-supplied content before incorporating into generated prompts

Key failure modes: blob-prompts (unstructured paragraphs), context leakage (embedding orchestrator state), ambiguous output contracts, instruction drift across iterative rewrites.

---

Quality Checklist

Before finalizing a prompt:

• Task is clear (single action verb + objective)
• Output format is explicit (with example if structure matters)
• Constraints are specific (not "appropriately" or "as needed")
• Examples cover normal and edge cases (if using few-shot)
• Golden rule passed (colleague wouldn't be confused)
• Long documents placed at top, query at bottom
• XML tags separate distinct components
• Critical rules in top 20% and/or bottom 20% (not buried in middle)
• Security considered (if handling untrusted input)
• Right technique chosen (zero-shot → few-shot → CoT → extended thinking)

For persistent context (skills, system prompts, CLAUDE.md):

• Every instruction earns its place (deletion test: removing it changes output)
• Declarative style for constraints; procedural only for ordered workflows
• Domain priming over persona assignment
• No blanket CoT — let reasoning models decide depth per request
• KV lists for lookups; tables only for genuinely 2D comparisons
• Few-shot examples calibrate format/style, not teach known patterns

When you authored the prompt as an agent (skill, subagent, system prompt, output style):

• Loaded [agent-authored-prompts.md] BEFORE drafting — not after
• Generated prompt is self-contained — no orchestrator context leakage
• Output format example included (concrete, not just a description)
• Validation criteria embedded for the receiving agent to self-check
• User-supplied content sanitized before incorporation
• Output contract (signature: inputs, outputs, success criteria) defined before text was written

Related Skills

• skill-engineering — applies prompt techniques to SKILL.md design, description formulas, and content architecture
• subagent-engineering — applies prompt techniques to subagent system prompts, tool scoping, and delegation triggers
• output-style-engineering — applies prompt techniques to persona definition, tone examples, and behavioral rules
• claude-code-sdk — reference for Claude Code extensibility APIs when building any AI artifact