Prompting
Prompt Chaining
A workflow that splits a task into a fixed sequence of LLM calls, where each call works on the output of the one before it.
In depth
A workflow that splits a task into a fixed sequence of LLM calls, where each call works on the output of the one before it. Between steps you can add programmatic checks, which Anthropic calls gates, to confirm an intermediate result is on track before moving on. Chaining gives up some latency in exchange for accuracy, because each call does a narrower, easier job. A typical chain writes an outline, checks it against criteria, then writes the document from the outline.
Primary source: anthropic.com
Example
In practice, developers reach for Prompt Chaining when they need the capability described above as part of an AI feature or workflow.
Go deeper at Developers Digest
Hands-on guides, comparisons, and tutorials that cover Prompting.
FAQ
Common questions
What is Prompt Chaining?
A workflow that splits a task into a fixed sequence of LLM calls, where each call works on the output of the one before it.
Why does Prompt Chaining matter for AI developers?
Prompt Chaining sits in the Prompting part of the AI stack. Understanding it helps you make better decisions when building, debugging, and shipping AI features.
Where can I learn more about Prompt Chaining?
Developers Digest publishes tutorials and videos that cover Prompting topics including Prompt Chaining. Check the blog and YouTube channel for hands-on walkthroughs.
Related
Related terms
Prompting
Prompt Regression Testing
Running a fixed suite of test inputs and assertions against every prompt or model change so that a tweak that fixes one case does not silently break others.
Prompting
Prompt Injection
An attack where malicious input tricks an AI model into ignoring its instructions and following attacker-supplied commands instead.
Prompting
Chain-of-Thought Monitoring
Chain-of-thought monitoring uses an automated monitor, often another language model, to read a reasoning model's chain of thought and flag signs that it intends to misbehave, such as reward hacking, sabotage, or deceiving the user.
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