> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.versuno.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# System Prompt

> Foundation-level instructions that govern AI behavior for an entire session.

A **system prompt** is the foundation layer. It runs before every user interaction and defines the AI's core behavior, capabilities, guardrails, and response format for the entire session. Everything else: personas, contexts, prompts, skills operates within the rules the system prompt sets.

Use a system prompt when you are defining the agent capabilities, purpose and need consistent, enforced behavior across every interaction. Customer support bots, coding assistants, autonomous agents, etc.

## What goes in a system prompt

* The AI's role and primary purpose
* [Persona (guardrails, edge case resolution, tone & style, etc.)](/asset-types/persona)
* Any policies or rules that must always apply

## Tips

* Define the structure: role -> rules -> constraints -> examples.
* Define output format explicitly. If you need it to return JSON, write it explicitly with example outputs.
* Include error-handling instructions: what should the AI say when it doesn't know?
* Test with adversarial inputs (prompt injections) to find edge cases your system prompt doesn't handle.
* System prompts are the highest-trust context — keep them tight and deliberate.

## API value

```
"assetType": "system_prompt"
```

<Note>
  Note the underscore: the API value is `system_prompt`, not `systemPrompt`.
</Note>

## Example

```json theme={null}
{
  "name": "Customer support agent",
  "assetType": "system_prompt",
  "content": "
  You are a customer support agent for Versuno.

  Your job is to help users resolve issues with the Versuno platform.

  You are helpful, concise, and professional.

  Only answer questions related to Versuno — redirect off-topic questions directly.

  When you don't know the answer, say so clearly and offer to escalate.

  Always respond in plain text, no markdown, no json, no xml.
  "
}
```