System Prompts & Prompting Types Explained Simply (With Examples)

Whenever we talk to an AI model (like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, etc.), we are basically giving it prompts.
These prompts tell the AI what to do, how to answer, and even what tone to use.

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What is a System Prompt?

A system prompt is the first hidden instruction given to the AI before the conversation starts.
You don’t see it, but it has a big impact.

Example:

"You are a helpful assistant who answers politely and in simple language."

If this is in the system prompt, then no matter what you ask, the AI will try to answer politely and simply.

Think of a system prompt like the rules of a game – it decides how the AI will behave.

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Types of Prompting

Different ways of asking questions can give different results.
Here are the main types:

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1. Zero-shot Prompting

You ask your question directly without giving any examples.

Example:

"Explain Newton’s third law in simple words."

The AI has to figure it out on its own.

✅ Good: Fast and simple.
⚠ Bad: Sometimes not very accurate.

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2. Few-shot Prompting

You give a few examples first so the AI knows the pattern.

Example:

Example 1: "Sun rises in the East." → True
Example 2: "Fish can fly." → False
Question: "Water is wet." → ?

The AI will follow the pattern and answer correctly.

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3. Chain-of-Thought Prompting

You tell the AI to think step-by-step before answering.

Example:

"Solve 12 × (5 + 3). Think step-by-step."

The AI will solve the bracket first, then multiply, and then give the final answer.

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4. Role-based Prompting

You assign a role to the AI.

Example:

"You are a professional JavaScript tutor. Explain closures to a beginner."

The AI will act like a JavaScript tutor in its answer.

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Why Are System Prompts & Prompting Types Important?

The right prompt makes the AI’s answer more useful.
Choosing the right prompting method gives better results.
A system prompt sets the mindset of the AI for the whole chat.

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Final Thoughts

If you want great answers from AI, it’s not just what you ask – it’s how you ask.
Understanding system prompts and prompting types can help you make AI work exactly the way you want.