Definition · context memory
context engineering
context engineering is the craft of choosing what a model sees, when it sees it, and in what form. You can spot context engineering in practice when the record shows what the system observes, what choice it makes, and what changes next, without asking the reader to guess or trust a slogan.
157 definitions656 sourced recordsNamed source: ACL Anthology
Why does context engineering matter?
What the model sees often matters as much as which model you choose. Ordering, timing, and format can change the decision. For context engineering, start with three checks: What is kept, and for how long? Who can write or retrieve it? How would bad data be found and removed? The answers should point to visible evidence, not a promise.
What does context engineering look like?
A claims agent receives the policy clause beside the customer's evidence rather than a full unsorted handbook. This example makes context engineering visible by naming the actor, the action, and the result in practice. It is an illustration for readers, not a claim that every product behaves this way.
What is context engineering easy to confuse with?
Context engineering designs model input over time. Prompt writing is only one part of that work. The closest entries here are context compression, context envelope, context caching. Compare their definitions with context engineering before using the names as if they mean the same thing. That comparison keeps context engineering separate from nearby ideas without pretending the boundary is always perfect.
How certain is this definition?
This definition is provisional. ACL Anthology supports the version you see today, but a better or more direct source may change it. Open the cited page and check its date before you use this entry to choose a product, write a policy, set a safety control, or design a system.
Who introduced the term context engineering?
We have not verified who first introduced context engineering. The source supports a useful definition, but it may not be the earliest use. Until a dated primary record settles the question, we leave the origin open. A popular article or product page is not enough to name the person who coined a term.
What should you understand before context engineering?
Read memory first when context engineering depends on a more basic idea or mechanism. The link gives you a useful route through the glossary. It does not mean every author teaches the subject in this order, so follow the source when the sequence matters.
What should this term help you answer?
Use context engineering to ask what an agent can observe, decide, change, remember, or hand off. The questions below turn the definition into a practical check. They are prompts for your own work, not claims made by the source, so change them to fit the system you are examining.
- What is kept, and for how long?
- Who can write or retrieve it?
- How would bad data be found and removed?
Which source supports this definition of context engineering?
ACL Anthology supports this working definition of context engineering. We checked the link on 2026-07-12. Open the original record for its context, methods, limits, and publication details. The short explanation here is a guide to context engineering; the linked source remains the evidence to inspect when the wording or boundary matters.
source foundcontext engineeringChecked 2026-07-12→