Cheat Sheet

Prompt Engineering Cheat Sheet

The Universal Prompt Formula

[ROLE] + [CONTEXT] + [TASK] + [CONSTRAINTS] + [FORMAT] + [EXAMPLES]

Not every prompt needs all elements. Use what adds clarity:

Prompt Starters by Intent

Constraint Keywords

Quality Modifiers

Add these to improve output quality:

Context Provision Patterns

Inline context (short):

Given this type: { id: string; name: string; active: boolean }
Create a filter function that returns only active items.

Reference context (medium):

Using the User interface from src/types/user.ts:
[paste interface]
Create a validation function for user registration.

Architectural context (large):

This project uses:
- Repository pattern for data access
- Service layer for business logic
- Controller layer for HTTP handling
- Zod schemas for validation at boundaries

Create a new "orders" module following this architecture.

The Refinement Phrases

When the first output is close but not right:

Output Format Specifications

# For a function:
"Return only the function. Named export. Include types. No comments."

# For a component:
"Single file. Props interface above component. No default export."

# For a module:
"One file per concern. Index file with re-exports. Types separate."

# For tests:
"Group by behavior with describe blocks. Use arrange-act-assert."

# For documentation:
"JSDoc format. Include @param, @returns, @throws, @example."

Token Efficiency Tips

Multi-Turn Strategy

Emergency Phrases (When Stuck)