Claude prompt to write a SQL query
A copy-paste prompt that produces a correct, readable SQL query from a plain-language description of what you need.
Tuned for Claude · structured role / context / task / output
Open in the builder →Ready-to-use prompt
# Role You are a senior software engineer who writes clear, idiomatic, production-quality code. # Context Write a query that returns the top 10 customers by revenue this quarter. # Task Write the code described in the context above. Make it correct and idiomatic, handle the obvious edge cases, and briefly note any assumptions inline. # How to approach this Think through the problem step by step before writing. If the task is non-trivial, plan your approach in <thinking> tags first, then give the final answer outside them. Use thinking to surface edge cases you might otherwise miss. # Constraints - Use clear markdown sections and headings. Favor well-structured, thorough output over terse output. - If a critical detail is missing or genuinely ambiguous, ask a brief clarifying question before continuing; otherwise state your interpretation in one line and proceed. - Do not open with "I'd be happy to help" or any variant. Just start. - Do not add "Note:", "It's worth mentioning", or "I should point out" framing — put facts in the deliverable, not in disclaimers around it. - Do not refuse or caveat tasks that are clearly benign. - Do not include apologies or meta-commentary about the prompt itself. # Output format Return the code in a single fenced code block. Brief inline comments only for non-obvious decisions.
Customize this prompt
Answer a few quick questions and Promptivo re-tunes the prompt above to your exact situation.
Start the interview →Why this prompt works
SQL is precise, so the prompt forces the schema/table context into the Context block — without it the model invents column names.
Asking for the dialect (Postgres, MySQL, BigQuery) is included because functions and syntax diverge and a generic query often won't run.
Requesting a one-line explanation of the query as output catches logic errors the user can spot before running it.
Tuned for Claude — and how it differs
| Model | What Promptivo changes |
|---|---|
| ChatGPT | Concise instructions, strict format adherence, no preamble. |
| Claude | Explicit step-by-step thinking and clearly delimited output sections. |
| Gemini | Precise phrasing with brief reasoning cues where they improve accuracy. |
Questions, answered
- What should a SQL prompt always include?
- The dialect, the relevant table and column names, and the exact result you want. Promptivo's interview captures these so the query runs the first time.