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constraint-specification

Defining output format, length, tone, and content boundaries within prompts.

skills/prompt-architecture/constraint-specification/SKILL.md

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# Constraint Specification
Constraints are the rules that shape AI output — what format to use, how long to be, what to include, what to exclude. Well-specified constraints produce predictable, useful outputs. Vague constraints produce inconsistent results.
## Types of Constraints
**Format constraints:**
- Output structure (JSON, markdown, plain text, bullet points, prose)
- Section headings and organisation
- Required fields and optional fields
- Data types and schemas
**Length constraints:**
- Word count ranges (not exact numbers — models are bad at counting)
- Section length proportions ("spend 60% on analysis, 40% on recommendations")
- Minimum and maximum bounds
- Conciseness directives ("be brief" vs. "be thorough")
**Content constraints:**
- Topics to include and exclude