A prompt is the text you give an AI tool to tell it what you want. It can be a single question or several paragraphs.
Most prompts have a task, such as 'summarise this', and some material to work with. Good ones also say who the text is for, how long it should be and what the result should look like.
The AI cannot see what you have in mind. It works from your words alone, so a short, vague request gets a general answer, and a clear one gets a closer fit.
You do not need special commands or codes. Plain sentences work, as if you were briefing a colleague who knows the subject but not your situation.
If the first answer is not what you wanted, change the prompt or add to it. The answer will usually follow.
Our free page 'How to prompt better' has a copyable template for the four questions: goal, background, limits and done when. Open How to prompt better
Last reviewed: 2026-11-02
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