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AI Glossary

What is Prompt Engineering?

The practice of crafting effective instructions to get better results from AI models.

By Council Research TeamUpdated: Jan 27, 2026

Definition

Prompt engineering is the art and science of writing instructions (prompts) that help AI models produce better, more accurate outputs. It involves techniques like providing context, using examples (few-shot learning), specifying output format, and breaking complex tasks into steps.

Examples

1Adding "Think step by step" to improve reasoning
2Providing examples of desired output format
3Using role prompts like "You are an expert..."

Why It Matters

Good prompts can dramatically improve AI output quality. It's a key skill for getting value from AI tools.

Related Terms

Large Language Model (LLM)

An AI system trained on vast text data to understand and generate human-like text.

Context Window

The maximum amount of text an AI can process in a single conversation.

Chain of Thought (CoT)

A prompting technique where AI shows its reasoning step-by-step to improve accuracy.

Common Questions

What does Prompt Engineering mean in simple terms?

The practice of crafting effective instructions to get better results from AI models.

Why is Prompt Engineering important for AI users?

Good prompts can dramatically improve AI output quality. It's a key skill for getting value from AI tools.

How does Prompt Engineering relate to AI chatbots like ChatGPT?

Prompt Engineering is a fundamental concept in how AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini work. For example: Adding "Think step by step" to improve reasoning Understanding this helps you use AI tools more effectively.

Related Use Cases

Best AI for Coding

Best AI for Writing

Best AI for Creative

AI Models Using This Concept

ClaudeClaudeChatGPTChatGPTGeminiGemini

See Prompt Engineering in Action

Council lets you compare responses from multiple AI models side-by-side. Experience different approaches to the same prompt instantly.

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