RS Glossary
Prompt or Workflow Chaining
A chain is a linked sequence of steps, prompts, tools, or decisions that work together in an AI workflow.
- Review state
- Reviewed in POC
- Freshness
- Current
- Version
- 2
- Prompt Chaining
- Workflow Chaining
- Chaining
Remember it this wayEach step hands something to the next.
In plain language
Prompt or workflow chaining connects steps so the output of one prompt, tool, or decision becomes input to the next. The sequence may be fixed in code or chosen as work proceeds.
Why it matters
Chaining can make complex work observable and testable at each handoff. It also creates dependencies: an early error can propagate unless later steps validate their inputs.
Example
One step extracts facts from documents, a second checks the facts against policy, and a third drafts a response using only the validated set.
Common misconception
A longer chain is not automatically more capable. Every added step introduces latency, cost, failure modes, and another boundary that needs verification.
Related terms
Sources
- Anthropic, “Building Effective Agents”defines prompt chaining as a sequence in which each model call processes the previous call’s output.
Learn more
- Compare [[workflow|Workflow]], [[orchestration|Orchestration]], [[prompt|Prompt]], and [[handoff|Handoff]] to place Prompt or Workflow Chaining in the surrounding system.
- Follow the cited source material above for the method, standard, or research context behind this draft.
Public history
23 recorded events · 23 public summaries
A potential shared concept was discussed and selected for initial glossary drafting.
The captured candidate received a complete initial draft and entered section-level human review.
Radar reviewed the initial definition draft for human consideration.
Radar reviewed the initial plain-language-explanation draft for human consideration.
Radar reviewed the initial why-it-matters draft for human consideration.
Radar reviewed the initial example draft for human consideration.
Radar reviewed the initial common-misconception draft for human consideration.
Radar reviewed the initial remember-it-this-way draft for human consideration.
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Radar reviewed the initial learn-more draft for human consideration.
Definition review recorded as approve.
Plain-Language Explanation review recorded as approve.
Why It Matters review recorded as approve.
Example review recorded as approve.
Common Misconception review recorded as approve.
Remember It This Way review recorded as approve.
Related Terms review recorded as approve.
Sources review recorded as approve.
Learn More review recorded as approve.
Sources review recorded as replace.
Radar verified the learner-facing sources after personal origin provenance was removed.
All nine current wording approvals were reconciled to Approved term status.
Source: vault/Glossary/terms/prompt-or-workflow-chaining/term.md · sha256:dc45db78815649daf0b064aa68517b82fd0a37826d396830d9fdc5b39815305f · Release: rs-glossary-glossary-team-poc-0.5.5-2026-09-02