Structure prompts

How you structure a prompt can affect the model's ability to parse the information in the prompt. It also helps the model correctly interpret how to use the given information. To give structure to a prompt, you can use prefixes or XML tags to delimit different parts or components of a prompt.

Use prefixes to structure simple prompts

A prefix is a word or phrase followed by a colon to label the information in a prompt. In the following example, "TASK:, "CLASSES:," and "OBJECTS:" are the prefixes.

Prompt: TASK: Classify the OBJECTS. CLASSES: - Large - Small OBJECTS: - Rhino - Mouse - Snail - Elephant Response: - Rhino: Large - Mouse: Small - Snail: Small - Elephant: Large (gemini-pro)

Use XML and other delimiters to structure complex prompts

For complex prompts, use XML and other delimiters to separate components of a prompt. You can use BEGIN and END or {} section delimiters for complex and lengthy prompt components to clearly distinguish them from the actual instructions.

You are a chatbot agent answering  customer's questions in a chat.
Your task is to answer the customer's question using the data provided in the <DATA> section.
  - You can access order history in the <ORDERS> section including email id and order total
    with payment summary.
  - Refer to <ORDERLINES> for item level details within each order in <ORDERS>.

Today is 2024-01-29

<DATA>
<ORDERS>
{OrderId|CustomerEmail|CreatedTimestamp|IsCancelled|OrderTotal|PaymentSummary
CC10182|[e-mail]|2024-01-19|true|0.0|Not available
CC10183|[e-mail]|2024-01-19|true|0.0|Not available}
{...}
...
</ORDERS>

<ORDERLINES>
OrderId|OrderLineId|CreatedTimestamp|ItemDescription|Quantity|FulfillmentStatus|ExpectedDeliveryDate
|ActualDeliveryDate|ActualShipDate|ExpectedShipDate|TrackingInformation|ShipToAddress|CarrierCode|De
liveryMethod|UnitPrice|OrderLineSubTotal|LineShippingCharge|TotalTaxes|Payments CC10182|1||Shorts|0.
0|unshipped|2024-01-31|2024-02-01|2024-01-30|2024-01-29||||ShipToAddress|115.99|0.0|0.0|0.0|
...
</ORDERLINES>
</DATA>

<INSTRUCTIONS>
- If there is no data that can help answer the question, respond with "I do not have this
  information. Please contact customer service".
- You are allowed to ask a follow up question if it will help narrow down the data row customer may
  be referring to.
- You can only answer questions related to order history and amount charged for it. Include OrderId
  in the response, when applicable.
- For everything else, please redirect to the customer service agent. 
- Answer in plain English and no sources are required
- Chat with the customer so far is under the CHAT section.
</INSTRUCTIONS>

QUESTION: How much did I pay for my last order?
ANSWER:

What's next

• Explore more examples of prompts in the Prompt gallery.