System prompt
Expanded definition
System prompts define identity, output rules, and safety policy. They should stay separate from retrieved documents and user files, which are untrusted data. Long system prompts consume context and are good candidates for prompt caching when the prefix is stable. Version them, evaluate them, and never paste secrets into them. User-prompt text that asks to ignore the system prompt should be treated as an injection attempt.
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System prompt FAQ
What is System prompt?
A system prompt is trusted developer instruction that sets role, tools, and policy before the user message.
How is System prompt used in AI systems?
System prompts define identity, output rules, and safety policy. They should stay separate from retrieved documents and user files, which are untrusted data. Long system prompts consume context and are good candidates for prompt caching when the prefix is stable. Version them, evaluate them, and never paste secrets into them. User-prompt text that asks to ignore the system prompt should be treate...
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