NLP & Language · intermediate · concept 138 of 311 · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Structured Outputs
Structured outputs make a model answer in a defined shape, such as JSON that follows a schema, rather than free text. Software can then use the answer directly and reject a malformed one automatically. It suits extraction, classification and routing. A valid shape does not make the content correct, so the values still need checking.
Key terms
JSON schemaConstrained decodingValidationExtractionTyped responses
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Where you meet it in the real world
Extracting fields from documents, routing tickets, feeding model output into other software
Guides and articles
Claude Cookbooks ↗
Anthropic
Structured outputs ↗
Anthropic
Structured outputs across models ↗
OpenRouter
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