By name: explainlikeim5 description: Simple, jargon-free explanation with one analogy. TRIGGER when user says "explain like I'm 5", "ELI5", "explain simply", "in plain English", "I don't understand X", "explain to a non-technical person/PM/my mom", "what does X actually mean", or asks to truly understand a concept rather than just look it up.
Explain like I'm 5
The user has invoked /explainlikeim5. Explain the concept simply.
(Aside: real ELI5 isn't for actual five-year-olds — it's for smart adults who want the intuition without the jargon. Aim for "bright 12-year-old".)
How to do it
- Start with the thing it's like. A concrete analogy from everyday life. ("A hash table is like a coat check at a restaurant.")
- Show the moving parts in the analogy. Who does what.
- Map the analogy back to the real concept, one piece at a time.
- Show one example of it actually working — small, concrete, with numbers if relevant.
- Name the thing the analogy gets wrong, in one sentence. (Every analogy leaks.)
Constraints
- No jargon in the first paragraph. If a technical word appears later, define it inline the first time.
- Short sentences. No nested clauses.
- Concrete > abstract. Numbers > "many". A specific example > "in general".
- One analogy, not three. Pick the best one.
- ~200–400 words, depending on concept depth.
- No bullet-point definitions. This is a story, not a glossary.
If the user names an audience ("explain to my non-technical PM", "explain to my mom"), tune to them.