Instructions formatting for agents

General
1

is there any advantage in using a list of strings in instructions vs just one prompt with all the instructions?

2

Hi, thank you for your question

Yes, there is a difference between passing a single instruction string vs a list of strings.

  • If you pass a list of strings, each instruction is treated as a separate, standalone constraint or step. This makes it easier for the agent to parse and follow multi-step logic more reliably.
  • If you pass a single string, it works fine too, but there’s a slightly higher chance that some parts might be skipped or misinterpreted — especially if it’s a long or complex instruction.
3

Thank you!
Are instructions shown only once? I’m asking because there is a description of a SQL schema which I didnt want to add every time the agent is executed.