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COMPEL Glossary / few-shot-prompting

Few-shot prompting

A prompt pattern in which the prompt includes labeled examples demonstrating the desired input-output behavior before the real task.

What this means in practice

Leverages in-context learning; useful where the task format is non-standard or the model's default behavior deviates from what the operator needs. Example count is typically 1 to 10.

Synonyms

few-shot prompt pattern , in-context examples

Related Terms Network

This diagram shows how Few-shot prompting connects to other concepts in the COMPEL body of knowledge. Each linked node is a term you can explore in turn.

Related terms for Few-shot prompting Network graph showing 2 related glossary terms connected to Few-shot prompting. Few-shot promp… Zero-shot … Chain-of-t…
2 related concepts connected to Few-shot prompting.

The COMPEL Glossary Graph visualizes relationships between framework terminology, showing how concepts interconnect across domains, stages, and pillars. Term nodes cluster by pillar affiliation while cross-references reveal semantic dependencies — for example, how risk appetite connects to control effectiveness, model governance, and assurance requirements. This network representation helps practitioners navigate the framework vocabulary and understand that COMPEL terminology forms a coherent conceptual system rather than isolated definitions.

Accessible list of related terms
  • Zero-shot prompting — A prompt pattern in which the model receives only an instruction — no labeled examples of the desired input-output behavior.
  • Chain-of-thought (CoT) — A prompt pattern that elicits intermediate reasoning steps before the final answer — either zero-shot ("Let's think step by step") or few-shot with example reasoning chains.

See also

  • Zero-shot prompting — A prompt pattern in which the model receives only an instruction — no labeled examples of the desired input-output behavior.
  • Chain-of-thought (CoT) — A prompt pattern that elicits intermediate reasoning steps before the final answer — either zero-shot ("Let's think step by step") or few-shot with example reasoning chains.