chain

Definition

A structure where each step feeds the next — a sequence of reasoning steps, or a pipeline of model calls wired end to end. Both share a failure mode: an error early in the chain propagates through everything after it, and later steps tend to rationalise it rather than catch it. Contrast with tree- or graph-shaped alternatives that branch, letting you compare candidates or backtrack.

Explainers using this term

• Chain-of-Thought from Scratch — What Changes When You Make a Model Show Its WorkChain-of-Thought Prompting Elicits Reasoning in Large Language Models
• Test-Time Scaling — How Models Get Better by Thinking LongerChain-of-Thought Prompting Elicits Reasoning in Large Language Models
• The Science of Prompt Engineering — What Is Proven and What Is FolkloreChain-of-Thought Prompting Elicits Reasoning in Large Language Models