# <instructions> tag — Claude XML prompting reference

> How to use the <instructions> XML tag in Claude prompts: when to use it, when not to, minimal and full examples, common mistakes.
>
> Source: https://claudexml.com/tags/instructions/ · Last updated 2026-05-25

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# <instructions> — when and how to use it in Claude prompts

    The most important tag. Wraps the system-level instructions you want Claude to follow throughout the conversation.

    Wraps the top-level directives for what Claude should do — equivalent to a system prompt placed inline.


## When to use `<instructions>`


- Defining the model's task, persona, constraints, or response format.
- Placing system-prompt-like content inside a user message when the API system field isn't enough.


## When not to use it


- Don't use it to wrap the user's actual question — use a separate tag like `<question>` or just unwrapped prose for that.
- Don't restate the same instructions multiple times inside one prompt — Claude follows the first `<instructions>` block; redundancy invites contradiction.


## Minimal example


```xml
<instructions>
Summarize the article below in 3 bullet points.
</instructions>
```


## Full example


```xml
<instructions>
You are a technical writer. Read the article inside <article> and produce:
- A 1-sentence TL;DR
- 3 bullet points of key takeaways
- 1 open question the article does not answer

Use Markdown. Do not invent facts. If the article doesn't mention something, say so.
</instructions>

<article>
{{ user_provided_article }}
</article>
```


## Common mistakes


- Putting the question inside `<instructions>`. Claude may treat the question text as an instruction to follow rather than a query to answer.
- Nesting other content tags inside `<instructions>`. Keep instructions flat; let context, examples, and documents be siblings.


Cite this page

`<instructions> — When and How to Use in Claude Prompts. claudexml.com. https://claudexml.com/tags/instructions/`