What is llms.txt, and does your website need one?
llms.txt is a simple file that points AI assistants to your most useful pages. Here is what it is, what it is not, and how to make one.
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What is llms.txt?
llms.txt is a plain text file in Markdown that you place at the root of your website, at yourdomain.com/llms.txt. It gives AI assistants a short, clean summary of who you are and links to your most important pages.
It is a proposed convention, not an official web standard. Search engines and AI companies have not committed to using it, so treat it as a low-cost helper, not a ranking switch.
What goes in an llms.txt file?
A good file is short and factual. It usually contains:
- A title with your business name
- One or two sentences describing what you do and who you serve
- Links to your main pages with a few words about each (services, pricing, key guides, contact)
What will llms.txt not do?
It will not make an AI assistant mention you, and it does not replace good content. AI assistants mostly rely on pages that are clear, accurate, easy to crawl and backed by other sources. llms.txt simply makes your best pages easier to find.
It also does not block anything. If you want to control which crawlers can read your site, use robots.txt.
How do you make an llms.txt file?
Write the file by hand, or generate a draft from your homepage and edit it. Then upload it to the root of your site and open the address in a browser to confirm it loads as plain text.
Frequently asked questions
Is llms.txt the same as robots.txt?
No. robots.txt tells crawlers what they may or may not visit. llms.txt is a guide that points AI assistants to your best pages.
Will llms.txt improve my Google ranking?
There is no evidence that it does. Think of it as helping AI tools understand your site, not as an SEO ranking factor.