Tables, Lists and JSON: Controlling the Output

An answer in the right shape saves you more time than an answer that’s slightly smarter. If you’ll paste it into Excel, ask for a table. If a program will read it, ask for JSON. Say the format and the AI follows it.

Tables for comparisons#

Compare Python, Java and JavaScript for a beginner choosing a first language.
Make a table with rows: Main uses, Learning curve, Jobs in India, Best first project.
Keep each cell under 12 words.

	Python	Java	JavaScript
Main uses	Data, AI, automation	Enterprise apps, Android	Websites, web apps
…	…	…	…

Tables copy straight into Excel or Google Sheets.

Lists and checklists#

Give me a checklist (with ☐ boxes) for preparing for a campus placement
drive, grouped into: 1 month before, 1 week before, the day before.

Length and level#

Vague: “short”. Precise: “under 80 words”, “3 bullet points”, “one paragraph”, “explain like I’m 12”. Precise limits are followed far more reliably.

Exact templates#

When the format must be exact, give the template:

Write a product description for a steel water bottle using exactly this format:

**Name:** (5 words max)
**Best for:** (one line)
**3 features:**
- …
- …
- …
**Price note:** (one line, no numbers)

JSON for programs#

JSON is the format programs use to exchange data. If you’re building something, or need data you can load into Pandas, ask for JSON and show the exact keys:

Extract the details from this message and return only JSON, no other text.
Use exactly these keys: name, phone, city, course, start_month.
Use null for anything not mentioned.

Message: "Hi, I'm Rohan from Indore, 98xxxxxx12, interested in your
data science course starting in January."

The model should reply with something like:

{
  "name": "Rohan",
  "phone": "98xxxxxx12",
  "city": "Indore",
  "course": "data science",
  "start_month": "January"
}

And Python can read it directly:

import json

reply = '{"name": "Rohan", "phone": "98xxxxxx12", "city": "Indore", "course": "data science", "start_month": "January"}'
lead = json.loads(reply)
print(lead["city"], lead["course"])

Output:

Indore data science

Code in the format you need#

Write a Python function that checks whether a password is strong.
Rules: 8+ characters, one digit, one uppercase letter, one symbol.
Give only the code with comments, then 4 example calls with expected output.

Quick check

You need 50 interview questions in a spreadsheet with columns Question, Topic, Difficulty. How do you ask? “Return a table (or CSV) with columns Question, Topic, Difficulty” and say how many rows. CSV pastes straight into Excel.

Summary#

• Name the shape: table, checklist, template, word limit.
• Give the exact template when the format must be exact.
• For programs, ask for JSON with named keys and null for missing values.