Pattern [17]

Reasoning Techniques

Algorithms / Design Patterns (e.g., Breadth-First Search, Recursion)

> Agentic Definition

Advanced cognitive architectures like Chain-of-Thought (CoT), Tree-of-Thought (ToT), and ReAct (Reason+Act) that structure the model's internal processing to solve complex problems.

> Description

Advanced cognitive architectures like Chain-of-Thought (CoT), Tree-of-Thought (ToT), and ReAct (Reason+Act) that structure the model's internal processing to solve complex problems.

≈ How It Maps to Algorithms / Design Patterns

The "method" by which the problem is solved. ToT is essentially a search algorithm (BFS/DFS) applied to the space of "thoughts."

≠ Key Divergence

Reasoning is prompted, not coded. You don't write the for loop; you tell the model how to think about the loop. You are programming the cognitive process, not the instruction set.

> Key Takeaway

Adapt: Programming is now "Prompt Engineering" at the architectural level. You are defining the algorithms of thought.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I use the Reasoning Techniques pattern?

Advanced cognitive architectures like Chain-of-Thought (CoT), Tree-of-Thought (ToT), and ReAct (Reason+Act) that structure the model's internal processing to solve complex problems.

How does Reasoning Techniques relate to Algorithms / Design Patterns (e.g., Breadth-First Search, Recursion)?

The "method" by which the problem is solved. ToT is essentially a search algorithm (BFS/DFS) applied to the space of "thoughts." However, there is a key divergence: Reasoning is prompted, not coded. You don't write the for loop; you tell the model how to think about the loop. You are programming the cognitive process, not the instruction set.

What are the production trade-offs of Reasoning Techniques?

More reasoning steps = higher latency. CoT increases token count significantly. Use only when the task complexity demands it.

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