Prompting fundamentals
In plain words
A prompt is the instruction you give an AI chatbot. Clear prompts get better answers. Say who the answer is for, what you want, what to include or leave out, and what format you want back. If the first answer misses, refine the prompt rather than starting over.
Healthcare example (illustrative)
Weak: "Explain spinal anaesthesia." Stronger: "Explain spinal anaesthesia to a 60-year-old patient having a knee replacement, in under 150 words, at a reading age of about 12. Cover what they will feel, how long the numbness lasts in general terms, and when to call a nurse. Do not give drug doses."
A little more technical
Chatbots continue text based on patterns. The more context you supply (audience, purpose, constraints, an example of the output you want), the less the model has to guess. Useful habits: give one or two examples, ask for a fixed structure (headings, a table, bullet points), and split a big task into smaller steps.
Don't learn this yet
Skip "prompt libraries", lists of magic phrases, and advanced techniques like prompt chaining for agents. Clear instructions do most of the work.