RTF Framework: Role, Task, Format

The RTF framework is one of the simplest and most effective structures for creating prompts that generate clear, organized, and directly applicable responses in language models like ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, and many others. By defining who the AI should be, what it should do, and how to present the answer, this structure eliminates ambiguity and significantly improves the quality of responses.

Perfect for those looking to get lists, quick explanations, or well-organized summaries, RTF is a practical and versatile entry point for anyone starting to explore prompt engineering with LLMs — or for those seeking agility in daily tasks.

What Is the RTF Framework?

The RTF framework structures a request into three core parts: Role, Task, and Format. Each element serves a clear purpose, and together they guide the AI to deliver more accurate, consistent, and useful answers. It’s an ideal structure for simple requests that require objectivity.

Framework Components

• Role: Defines who the AI should be during the interaction. It can be a “marketing expert”, a “teacher”, or even a “travel guide”. This sets the tone and perspective of the response.
• Task: Specifies what you want the AI to do. It’s the heart of the request — such as “list tips”, “explain a concept”, or “create a plan”. The clearer, the better the result.
• Format: Indicates how the response should be presented. It could be a “numbered list”, a “paragraph”, or even a “table”. This ensures the content is delivered in your preferred structure.

Together, these three elements form a complete prompt that guides the AI like a roadmap to the right destination.

When to Use It?

RTF shines in situations where the goal is to get a quick, direct, and well-organized response. It’s perfect for objective tasks like:

• Generating lists (e.g. ideas, steps, examples)
• Summarizing content
• Explaining concepts briefly
• Presenting topics in specific formats

Use RTF when…

• You want clarity and speed in the response
• The task is simple but needs to be well-structured
• The response format impacts its usability

Practical Examples of RTF in Action

Now that you understand what RTF does and when to use it, let’s see how it works in practice. Below are two examples showing the structure’s versatility in different scenarios and language models. These are ready-to-use prompts that deliver useful and well-organized results.

Example 1: Productivity Tips

Imagine you want to improve your routine and need quick ideas. RTF helps organize the request clearly:

As a productivity expert, provide 5 practical tips to improve focus at work in a numbered list format.

Why it works: The “expert” sets the tone, the “task” (provide tips) is specific, and the “format” (numbered list) ensures an easy-to-read response.

This example is perfect for ChatGPT, Grok, and similar tools when you need something quick to apply in your day.

Example 2: Concept Summary

Now let’s say you’re studying and need to quickly understand something like artificial intelligence for a project. Let’s vary the tone and model:

As an experienced teacher, explain what artificial intelligence is in a concise paragraph.

Why it works: The “teacher” adds authority to the tone, “explain” is a clear task, and the “paragraph” defines the compact format.

This prompt works well in models like Claude or Perplexity, suited to a more academic explanation.

Tips to Get the Most Out of RTF

While RTF is simple, it offers a lot of flexibility to adapt to different situations. With a few tweaks, you can shape the tone, depth, and even creativity of the response. Here are some guidelines to get the most from this structure.

Customize for Your Goal

The beauty of RTF lies in customization. You can adjust any of the three elements to align the prompt with your specific purpose:

• Adapt the role based on the tone you want:

“As an expert” gives authority.
“As a friend” makes the response more casual.
“As a comedy writer” triggers creative humor.

• Be specific with the task: Instead of saying “explain marketing”, say “explain the principles of the digital marketing funnel”.
• Vary the format: A single task can have multiple formats: list, paragraph, table, step-by-step, flowchart (in text), and more.

💡 Personalized example:

“As a career mentor, list 3 tips for improving professional networking at in-person events, in the form of short, direct bullet points.”

Start Using RTF Today

With the RTF framework — Role, Task, Format — you have in your hands a simple yet extremely powerful structure for creating effective prompts in any language model. Whether for learning something new, organizing ideas, or speeding up daily tasks, this structure delivers clarity, focus, and results.

🎯 Quick Summary:
RTF helps you tell the AI who it should be, what it should do, and how to present the response. With this, your interactions become more productive and much more aligned with your actual needs.

🔗 Want to explore more frameworks like this?
Check out the Practical Guide to Prompt Techniques, Frameworks, and Formulas for LLMs, with dozens of detailed and applicable structures for different contexts and goals, plus techniques and prompt engineering tips.

📘 Bonus tip:
Download the free eBook “Prompt Engineering Unveiled”, featuring easy explanations, practical examples, and strategies ranging from basic to advanced to master communication with AI.