When to Use Structured Outputs Instead of Freeform Chat Completions

If another system must consume it, structure it

Chat prose is for humans. If Laravel must create a ticket, set a priority, and assign a queue, ask the model for JSON that matches a schema.

Pattern

1. Define a schema (fields, enums, required)
2. Request structured output / tool call
3. Validate; retry with the validator errors once
4. Only then write to the database

When freeform still wins

Brainstorming, long explanations, and agent-facing drafts. Even then, you can ask for sections with headings to make editing easier.

Failure handling

Never parse JSON with optimism alone. Invalid output should become a user-visible retry, not a 500 for the whole form submit.

This discipline is how Rayaxis keeps practical AI features maintainable beside normal application code.