How do I write good prompts for AI coding tools?

Prompt quality dramatically affects AI output quality. Here's what works:

Core principles:

Be specific: 'Add a button' vs 'Add a blue submit button in the bottom right of the form that says Submit and is disabled until all required fields are filled'.

Provide context: 'I'm building a task manager for freelancers. Add a way to track billable hours.' Context helps AI make better decisions.

Include examples: 'Make the pricing table look like Stripe's pricing page' gives clearer direction than vague descriptions.

Prompt patterns that work:

'Create a [component/feature] that [does X]. It should [requirement 1], [requirement 2], and [requirement 3]. Style it similar to [reference].'

'I'm getting [error]. Here's what I expected: [expected]. Here's what happens: [actual]. The relevant code is: [code].'

'Refactor [this code] to [goal]. Keep [constraint] but change [specific thing].'

Common mistakes:

Prompting is a skill that improves with practice. Notice what works and refine your approach.