> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://support.contracthero.com/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# Optimizing AI Prompts — Get Better Results from Contract Analysis

## Your benefit

ContractHero's AI reads your contracts and fills in data fields automatically — terms, notice periods, custom fields. How well it works depends directly on how your prompt is written. A clear question tends to deliver better results than a vague instruction. The payoff: less manual correction and more reliable reports.

## How it works

The AI understands three types of prompts. A **clear, precise question** works best:

1. **Ask a question (recommended):** Write your prompt as a direct question.
* Example: *"What is the notice period in this contract?"*
* Example: *"When does the contract term end?"*

2. **Semantic description:** Describe what you're looking for without giving an instruction.
* Example: *"The remaining term of the contract"*

3. **Instruction:** Give the AI a direct command.
* Example: *"Extract the notice period"*

All three approaches work. However, the AI is optimized for question-answer pairs — questions typically deliver the best results.

**Tips for optimal prompts:**

1. Go to **Settings → Field builder → Contract field builder** and open a field via its gear icon (or create a new one)
2. In the box under **"Optional: Tell AI to extract the key details by giving a specific description related to this field"**, write a **short, precise question** about the information you want to extract
3. Use terms that actually appear in the contract — the AI works with the document's language
4. Avoid unnecessary repetition or contradictory information in your prompt
5. Save with **Update**

**What you DON'T need to include in the prompt:**

* **List options:** For list fields, the AI automatically recognizes the available values. You don't need to list or mention them — asking for the information alone is enough ("Which item is being leased?"). What matters instead is that the options themselves are unambiguous.
* **Date format:** The format follows your account settings automatically. No need for "Enter the date in DD.MM.YYYY format."
* **Field type:** The AI already knows whether it's a text, date, or list field.

## The three buttons under the prompt field

* **Test in a contract** — pick an existing contract and see immediately what the prompt returns, before the field goes live.
* **Improve prompt** (wand icon) — has the AI rewrite your prompt. See below.
* **Re-analyse field** — runs the analysis for this field again.

## Common questions

*What if I have no idea how to phrase the prompt?*
Then have one suggested to you. Open the contract where the extraction is failing, switch to the **Assistant** tab, and ask for a wording — for example: *"What prompt do I need so the AI picks up the notice period from this contract?"*

The advantage over writing one yourself: the assistant has the **contract text in front of it** and can work from the actual wording of your document. That makes it a fast starting point when you are setting up new fields.

Enter the suggestion on the field in question and check it with **Test in a contract** before putting it live. It is a starting point, not a verified result.

**No Assistant tab on your contracts?** The contract assistant is not enabled on every account. Talk to your **Customer Success Manager** or email **support@contracthero.com** — we're happy to help you phrase the prompt in the meantime.

*Should I write prompts short or detailed?*
Both can be right. Short, precise prompts are ideal. But if you need a very specific value from a complex contract, some additional context can help. Key rule: don't repeat yourself and avoid contradictory information.

*Will my existing prompts still work?*
Yes. The AI processes all three prompt types (questions, descriptions, and instructions). Existing prompts don't need to be rewritten, but questions tend to deliver better results.

*Do I need different prompts for different contract categories?*
Not necessarily. But if you notice a prompt isn't working well for a specific contract type, it can help to create a tailored prompt for that category — using terms that are common in those contracts.

*What is prompt improvement?*
**Improve prompt** (the wand icon under the prompt field) has the AI rewrite your prompt into a clearer question. Two things to know before you use it:

1. **It replaces your prompt in place.** Your wording is overwritten in the input field, not shown alongside it. If you want the original back, close the dialog with **Cancel** — or copy your prompt somewhere safe first.
2. **It may also fill the instruction field.** If the AI thinks a special rule is needed, it writes one into **Optional: Filters and special instructions**, even if that box was empty before. Open the section and check what it put there.

The result is an **untested suggestion**. It often catches common mistakes — listed dropdown options, unnecessary format instructions — but it is not automatically better than what you wrote. Check it with **Test in a contract**, then save with **Update** only if you are happy.

*What is the difference between prompt improvement and the contract assistant?*
Prompt improvement sharpens a wording you have already written, and overwrites it. The contract assistant proposes a new one in the chat, and it knows the contract text while doing so. If you already have a prompt that simply isn't hitting well enough, use Improve prompt. If you have nothing yet, ask the assistant. Both give you suggestions you should test.

## Good to know

* **Improve prompt overwrites.** Keep a copy of a prompt you care about before running it, or use **Cancel** to back out.
* **Check the instruction box afterwards.** Improve prompt can add a special rule there without being asked.
* The AI is continuously being improved. New OCR technology and enhanced analysis features deliver even more accurate results — including for tables and scanned documents.
* If synonyms are used differently across contract types (e.g., "term" vs. "contract duration"), it can help to include multiple terms in your prompt.
* **Jump to Source** shows you exactly where in the document an extracted value came from — see the related article below.

## Related articles

* [Contract AI assistant: ask your contract instead of searching it](https://support.contracthero.com/en-us/article/contract-ai-assistant-ask-your-contract-instead-of-searching-it-gaxfgv/) — it can also suggest a prompt for you
* [How our AI reads contracts: prompt, instruction and the path to a field value](https://support.contracthero.com/en-us/article/how-our-ai-reads-contracts-prompt-instruction-and-the-path-to-a-field-value-1oswbqd/) — what happens behind the analysis
* [Simple prompt examples for AI contract analysis](https://support.contracthero.com/en-us/article/simple-prompt-examples-for-ai-contract-analysis-1tl8za2/) — ready-made templates per field
* [Jump to Source — See exactly where AI-extracted information comes from](https://support.contracthero.com/en-us/article/jump-to-source-see-exactly-where-ai-extracted-information-comes-from-166kn7t/)