System Prompt

Plain-English explanation

System prompts set role, boundaries, policies, and workflow rules. They should be concise, testable, and protected from user or document override.

Why it matters

System Prompt matters because it affects how AI systems are designed, evaluated, priced, or trusted. Knowing the term helps you ask better questions and avoid vague implementation decisions.

• Ask how it changes quality, cost, speed, or safety.
• Look for concrete examples in the workflow you are building.
• Document the tradeoff before choosing a tool or architecture.