# Prompt chaining

> Splitting a complex task into a sequence of smaller prompts, where each step's output becomes the next step's input.

Source: Promptea — https://www.promptea.me/en/glossary/prompt-chaining · Language: English · Last updated: 2026-11-09

## What it means

- Definition: instead of one giant prompt, you run several focused ones in order — for example extract the facts, then draft, then critique, then rewrite — passing results forward.
- Why it matters: each step has one job, so it is easier to specify, test and fix. You can also check or correct the output between steps, which a single long prompt does not allow.
- How to apply it: define the output format of every step so the next one can consume it, keep intermediate results short, and add a validation step where a mistake would be expensive.
- Common mistake: chaining when one prompt would do. Every extra step adds latency and cost, so split only when the task is genuinely multi-stage or when one step keeps failing.

## Example

```text
Step 1 of 3 — extract.
From the text below, list every factual claim as a numbered list. One claim per line, no commentary.

Text:
"""[paste]"""

(Next step: paste this list into step 2, "draft a summary using only these claims"; then step 3, "check the summary against the list and flag anything not supported".)
```

[Open in Promptea](https://www.promptea.me/en/analyzer?prompt=Step+1+of+3+%E2%80%94+extract.%0AFrom+the+text+below%2C+list+every+factual+claim+as+a+numbered+list.+One+claim+per+line%2C+no+commentary.%0A%0AText%3A%0A%22%22%22%5Bpaste%5D%22%22%22%0A%0A%28Next+step%3A+paste+this+list+into+step+2%2C+%22draft+a+summary+using+only+these+claims%22%3B+then+step+3%2C+%22check+the+summary+against+the+list+and+flag+anything+not+supported%22.%29&purpose=text&target=gpt)

## Frequently asked questions

### When is chaining worth it?

When the task has distinct stages, when one big prompt gives inconsistent results, or when you want to inspect or fix the output midway.

### How is it different from chain-of-thought?

Chain-of-thought happens inside one response (the model shows its steps). Chaining uses several separate requests that you control.

## Related

- [Prompt chaining: how to break complex tasks into sequential AI steps](https://www.promptea.me/en/guides/prompt-chaining)
- [Context engineering: how to structure what you give an AI for better outputs](https://www.promptea.me/en/guides/context-engineering)
- [How to rewrite a prompt for better results](https://www.promptea.me/en/guides/prompt-rewriting)
- [Chain-of-thought prompting](https://www.promptea.me/en/glossary/chain-of-thought)
- [Context window](https://www.promptea.me/en/glossary/context-window)