> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.testavi.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Prompting 101 Guide
> Learn how to write clear, reliable test instructions for consistent results
## Core Principles
### 1. Descriptive Elements
*Basic but sometimes insufficient*
*Better - adds positional context*
*Best - provides complete context*
### 2. Verify States
Always begin with 'Verify' to check for:
* Element presence
* Content Validation
## Writing Steps
Each test step is one of the 4 types: **ACTION**, **VERIFICATION**, **JAVASCRIPT**, **EXTRACT**
Click, Type, Hover, Scroll, Wait, Upload, or Select operations for user interactions
Check elements, states, and conditions on the page
Run custom JavaScript code for complex operations
Pull and store data from the page for later use
###
## Best Practices
1. **Start Simple**: Begin with discrete actions for common interactions
2. **Validate Early**: Use verification actions to catch issues quickly
3. **Extract Strategically**: Only extract data you need for subsequent steps
4. **JavaScript as Backup**: Use JavaScript actions when other options aren't sufficient
## Common Pitfalls
1. **Multiple Actions**: Combining multiple actions in one step
2. **Vague Descriptions**: Using unclear element descriptions
3. **Missing Brackets**: Forgetting to enclose values or elements
4. **Skipping Verifications**: Not validating important states
5. **Implicit Waits**: Not specifying wait durations
## Next Steps
* Try writing your [first test](/first-test)
* Explore [available actions](/discrete-actions)
* Learn about test configuration