Token Optimizer — Maximum Output, Minimum Input

A skill for extracting the highest-quality, most complete responses from Claude using the fewest possible input tokens. Every technique here is tested, practical, and immediately applicable.

Core Philosophy

Information Density > Verbosity Claude processes meaning, not words. A 40-token instruction that is precise always beats a 200-token instruction that is vague.

The goal is not to "trick" Claude — it is to communicate with maximum clarity and minimum redundancy so Claude spends its compute on output, not parsing.

The 5 Pillars of Token Optimization

Pillar 1 — Prompt Compression

Strip all filler. Every word must earn its place.

Before (47 tokens):

Could you please analyze the following code and let me know what might be wrong
with it and also suggest how I could fix the issues you find?

After (9 tokens):

debug+fix: [code]

Compression patterns:

Read references/compression-patterns.md for 50+ compression shortcuts across categories.

Pillar 2 — Output Format Control

Unstructured output is the #1 source of wasted tokens in responses. Explicit format instructions cut response bloat by 30–50%.

Always specify:

• Format type: respond in: bullet points / table / JSON / numbered list / prose
• Length: max: 200 words or max: 5 bullets
• Restrictions: no intro sentence. no conclusion. no rephrasing my question.

Anti-filler instruction (add to any prompt):

Rules: no preamble, no "Great question!", no restating my prompt, no filler conclusions.
Start directly with the answer.

Power combo — role + format + constraint in one line:

You are [role]. Rules: [constraint 1], [constraint 2]. Format: [output format].

Example:

You are a senior Python engineer. Rules: no explanations unless asked, production-ready
code only, include error handling. Format: code block only.

Read references/output-formats.md for format templates by use case.

Pillar 3 — XML Tag Structuring

XML tags are the single most underused technique in prompt engineering. They reduce ambiguity, eliminate clarification rounds, and let Claude parse intent faster.

Basic structure:

<context>What Claude needs to know</context>
<task>What Claude must do</task>
<constraints>What Claude must NOT do</constraints>
<format>How the output should look</format>

Why this saves tokens:

• Removes the need for transition sentences ("Given the above, please now...")
• Eliminates 2–3 clarification exchanges per session
• One well-structured prompt replaces a 5-message back-and-forth

Advanced: State injection for agents

<session_state>
  user_goal: [goal]
  completed: [steps done]
  pending: [next step]
  constraints: [rules still active]
</session_state>
<task>Continue from pending step only. Do not repeat completed steps.</task>

Pillar 4 — Instruction Density

Bundle multiple tasks into a single, structured prompt instead of sending separate messages.

Instead of 4 messages:

Message 1: Explain X
Message 2: Now give me an example
Message 3: Now make it simpler
Message 4: Now summarize

One dense prompt:

For X:
1. explain (2 sentences max)
2. one concrete example
3. ELI5 version
4. one-line summary
Deliver all 4 in order. No filler between sections.

Task chaining syntax:

Step 1 → [task A] → output feeds Step 2 → [task B] → final output: [format]

Pillar 5 — Negative Space Instructions

Tell Claude exactly what NOT to do. This is as important as telling it what to do.

Standard negative block (copy-paste ready):

Do NOT:
- Repeat or rephrase my question
- Add an introduction or conclusion paragraph
- Use phrases like "Certainly!", "Great!", "Of course!", "Sure!"
- Ask clarifying questions unless the task is impossible without them
- Add disclaimers unless specifically relevant
- Pad the response to seem thorough

Aggressive compression mode:

Respond in the minimum tokens possible. Zero filler. Direct answers only.

One-Shot Example Pattern

Include one perfect input→output example inside your prompt. This is the fastest way to align Claude's output style without lengthy instructions.

Template:

Task: [description]

Example:
Input: [sample input]
Output: [exact output style you want]

Now do the same for:
Input: [your actual input]

This technique works because Claude pattern-matches on the example. One well-chosen example replaces 100 tokens of style instructions.

Read references/one-shot-examples.md for ready-made examples across 10 domains.

Context Management for Long Conversations

Claude has no memory between API calls. In long conversations, token costs compound.

Conversation pruning rules:

1. Keep only the last N exchanges that are directly relevant to current task
2. Replace long assistant responses with a one-line summary in history
3. Never carry pleasantries, confirmations, or filler in chat history
4. Use a "state summary" message instead of full history:

[CONTEXT SUMMARY]
Task: building an e-commerce site
Done: homepage, product listing, cart
Current: checkout form
Stack: HTML/CSS/JS, no frameworks
Rules: mobile-first, WhatsApp order routing
[END CONTEXT]

This replaces 2,000+ tokens of history with ~60 tokens of state.

System Prompt Templates

Read references/system-prompt-templates.md for 10 production-ready system prompts optimized for:

• Code assistant
• Content writer
• Data analyst
• Customer support bot
• Research assistant
• Summarization engine
• Translation service
• Creative writing
• Teaching / tutoring
• Business automation

Each template is under 200 tokens and follows all 5 pillars.

Token Savings Reference

Combined effect: A fully optimized session uses 3–8x fewer tokens than an unoptimized session for the same output quality.

Quick Reference Card

For the fastest results, apply this formula to any prompt:

[ROLE (1 line)] + [TASK (compressed)] + [FORMAT (explicit)] + [CONSTRAINTS (negative)]

Example:

You are a copywriter. Write 3 email subject lines for a SaaS product launch.
Format: numbered list. No explanations. Max 10 words each. Punchy and curiosity-driven.

That is 34 tokens. Without optimization, this same request often arrives as 120+ tokens with the same output quality.

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