Tokens and Context Windows Explained

Language models process information as small units often called tokens. A context window is the amount of information a model can consider at once.

Why it matters

When a prompt includes clear source material, the model can use that material to produce a more relevant answer. Very long or unfocused inputs can make the important details harder to find.

Practical tip

Organize large tasks into sections, name the desired outcome, and ask the model to summarize key facts before drafting. Review the result against the source material.