A prompt system acts as the foundational governance layer established by the developer, defining the AI’s overarching persona, safety constraints, and operational logic before any conversation begins. In contrast, a user instruction set represents the dynamic input layer where end-users direct the AI to perform specific tasks or answer queries. While developers maintain rigid, high-level control over the prompt system to ensure the model behaves consistently and securely, the user instruction set allows for fluid interaction, enabling users to drive the content of the exchange provided they remain within the architectural boundaries set by the developer.
Compare System vs. User Prompts
| Feature | Prompt System (Developer-Side) | User Instruction Set (User-Side) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Function | Establishes the rules, persona, context, and format constraints. | Specifies the immediate task, query, or goal to be executed. |
| Developer Control | Absolute: Developers hard-code these instructions to guardrail behavior. | Reactive: Developers can only influence this indirectly via the system prompt's restrictions. |
| User Interaction | None/Hidden: Users typically cannot see or modify these instructions. | High/Direct: This is the primary interface where the user communicates with the AI. |
| Scope | Global and persistent; applies to the entire session or application. | Local and transient; applies only to the specific prompt or turn in conversation. |
| Priority | Functions as the "constitution" that overrides conflicting user requests. | Subordinate to the system prompt; requests are fulfilled only if allowed by system rules. |
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