Quick definition · 2 min AI term

Structured outputs

Structured outputs force an AI to answer in a strict format like JSON, so your code can use the result reliably.

Think of it like

Handing someone a form to fill in instead of asking for a freeform letter. You get back exactly the fields you need.

Example

Instead of a paragraph, the model returns {"name": "Ada", "role": "dev"}, which your app can read directly.

Why it matters

Structured outputs are what make AI safe to wire into real software. They turn loose text into predictable data.

Where you’ll see it
OpenAI APIClaudeinstructor KB Cafe · Structured Output Builder
Go deeper What are Structured Outputs? (full explainer) → The full explainer. This quick definition is just the on-ramp. Next step Try it: Structured Output Builder → Design a schema and see the model fill it.
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