Official guide · OpenAI
Ask for a usable shape, not just a good-looking answer
Define the fields, types, and allowed values before generation when a human or another system needs to use the answer next.
Original source
Structured model outputs | OpenAI API
OpenAI · Official guide · checked 2026-07-15
What the source is saying
Structured Outputs can constrain model output to a developer-defined JSON Schema.
Try it in your work
Open the linked pattern for a reusable template, variables to change, and an example output shape.
Open the practical pattern →Keep in mind
This is most useful for repeatable extraction or automation. It can be unnecessary for a short one-off conversation.