Chain Prompting is the art of decomposing complex outputs into a series of connected prompts, where each builds upon the previous results. It's the difference between asking AI to write a book in one go versus crafting each chapter with the accumulated wisdom of what came before.
The Power of Sequential Building
Single prompts, no matter how detailed, hit cognitive limits. Chain prompting overcomes these by:
1. Maintaining Context: Each prompt carries forward essential information 2. Building Complexity: Simple foundations support sophisticated structures 3. Ensuring Coherence: Connected prompts create unified outputs 4. Enabling Refinement: Each stage can be perfected before proceeding 5. Managing Scope: Complex tasks become manageable chunks
The Chain Prompt Architecture
Think of chain prompting like building a house:
Foundation → Frame → Walls → Roof → Details
Each stage requires the previous one to be complete and passes critical information forward.