Prompting

Output Formatting

Quick Answer

Instructing models to return output in specific formats (JSON, markdown, lists, etc.).

Output formatting specifies desired output structure. Examples: 'Return as JSON', 'Use markdown headers', 'List with bullet points'. Formatting makes output machine-readable. Clear format instructions reduce errors. Some models support format constraints (JSON mode). Formatting helps with parsing. Formatting should be unambiguous. Explicit formatting examples help.

Last verified: 2026-04-08

Compare models

See how different LLMs compare on benchmarks, pricing, and speed.

Browse all models →