What is a prompt?

A prompt is your side of the conversation with an AI. It includes the question or task, any examples you want it to follow, and any rules you want it to stick to. The clearer your prompt, the more useful the response. A vague prompt usually gets a vague answer.

For coding, a strong prompt tends to include three things. First, what you want done, in concrete terms. Second, the relevant context, like the file you are working in or the bug you saw. Third, the constraints, like "use TypeScript" or "do not change the styling". Treat the AI like a thoughtful junior teammate who only knows what you tell them.

Prompt writing is a real skill, but you do not have to master it before you start. The fastest way to get better is to send a prompt, read the result, and revise. Over a few weeks of building with AI tools, you build instincts for what works.