Conditional Logic in Prompting
Use if-then statements to create more personalized and responsive applications
What is this strategy?
This strategy focuses on effectively implementing conditional logic in your Playlab prompts. By structuring your prompts with if-then statements, you can guide AI responses differently depending on various scenarios, user inputs, or conditions, creating more dynamic and personalized interactions.
Why It’s Important
Conditional logic represents a powerful technique in prompt engineering. When properly implemented, conditional prompts can:
- Create dynamic, branching conversations based on user input
- Personalize responses to different user needs and contexts
- Handle edge cases and unexpected inputs more gracefully
- Enable more nuanced and adaptive AI-generated content
- Improve the relevance and helpfulness of responses
Implementation Steps
Leverage this suggested template to help you build with conditional logic in your Playlab apps
Define Your Base Prompt
Start with a clear base prompt that outlines the fundamental task or interaction.
Example: “Ask the student what they are interested in.”
A well-defined base prompt establishes the foundation for your conditional statements.
Identify Key Conditions
Conditions
Define the different scenarios that might occur based on user inputs:
- If [condition1]
- Else if [condition2]
- Else if [condition3]
- Otherwise (default)
Example:
- If the student does not provide at least two interests
- If the student mentions sports
- If the student mentions creative arts
Clear conditions help the model recognize different scenarios and respond appropriately.
Specify Actions for Each Condition
Actions
Define what the model should do for each condition:
- If [condition1], then [action1]
- Else if [condition2], then [action2]
- Else if [condition3], then [action3]
- Otherwise, [default action]
Example:
- If the student does not provide at least two interests, then ask a probing question about what the student does for fun.
- If the student mentions sports, then suggest essay topics related to teamwork, competition, and personal growth.
- If the student mentions creative arts, then suggest essay topics related to expression, creativity, and cultural impact.
Specific actions ensure the model knows exactly how to respond to each condition.
Test and Refine
Try your conditional prompt with various inputs to ensure it handles all cases correctly.
- Start with simple conditionals and gradually increase complexity
- Test edge cases and unexpected inputs
- Refine conditions and actions based on results
Iterative testing helps identify and fix issues before deploying your app.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Last updated: April 3, 2025