The plain-English version
A task-specific agreement about what an output means, including fields, evidence, missing values, and invalid-input behavior.
Why it matters
It connects generated content to a usable application result.
Let’s make it click
A task extractor returns a title, a nullable due date, and a source sentence; it may not invent an unstated deadline.
Vibe Bro’s heads-up
A requested format or schema can constrain shape without establishing that the content is true.
You might also hear
- output requirements
- response contract
- missing values
The docs behind it
Research sources reviewed .
Editorial review · October 28, 2026
Supported: The distinction between requested shape and API-enforced structure is sound. OpenAI/Google document structured output plus residual mistakes; the example contract is original.