R0020/2026-03-25/Q003/SRC02/E01¶
Constraint-based design and prompt scaffolding advocated as core techniques
URL: https://www.lakera.ai/blog/prompt-engineering-guide
Extract¶
Key constraint-related guidance:
Constraint-based design: "Constraints don't restrict creativity; they give it form. The best prompt engineering practices in 2025 rely on constraint-based design to make AI outputs sharper, faster, and easier to control."
Prompt scaffolding: "Wrapping user inputs in structured, guarded prompt templates that limit the model's ability to misbehave — even when facing adversarial input."
Explicit formatting directives: Recommended patterns include: - "Respond only in JSON format" - "Use exactly 3 bullet points under 20 words each" - "IMPORTANT: Respond only with the following structure. Do not explain your answer."
Negative constraints: Limiting unwanted outputs using explicit instructions.
Key principle: "Clear structure and context matter more than clever wording — most prompt failures come from ambiguity, not model limitations."
Relevance to Hypotheses¶
| Hypothesis | Relationship | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| H1 | Supports | Constraint-based design positioned as core technique |
| H2 | Contradicts | Constraints explicitly discussed and recommended |
| H3 | Supports | Emphasis on structure over enforcement language specifically |
Context¶
Lakera's guide positions constraints as essential but frames them more as structural design principles than as enforcement language. "IMPORTANT: Respond only with..." uses imperative language but the overall message is about structure and clarity rather than MUST/MUST NOT enforcement per se.