What is llms.txt?
llms.txt is a proposed convention, not an official standard: a plain text file, usually placed at the root of a website, that gives language models a short, readable guide to the site's most useful pages. It's a suggestion to AI tools, not a rule.
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What llms.txt contains
The proposal describes a Markdown file with a title, a brief summary, and organized lists of links to key pages, each with a short description. The idea is to give a model a clean map of your content without the clutter of navigation and scripts.
It's often compared with robots.txt and sitemaps, but it does a different job. It guides rather than permits or blocks.
How much it matters
llms.txt is a proposal, not an official standard that major AI companies have committed to follow. Support varies, and you shouldn't expect it to change your visibility on its own.
It's cheap to create, so some sites publish one. Put your effort first into clear, crawlable pages and good structure, since those help every system.
Common questions
Is llms.txt the same as robots.txt?
No. Robots.txt tells crawlers which parts of a site they may access. llms.txt offers a curated, readable summary of your content for AI tools to use.
Do AI companies read llms.txt?
Google says Google Search doesn't use it, and that you don't need it to appear in AI Overviews or AI Mode. For other AI tools, check each provider's current documentation.
Where do I put llms.txt?
The proposal places it at the root of your domain, for example at yourdomain.com/llms.txt. You'd write it in Markdown and keep it up to date as your site changes.
Does llms.txt help SEO?
Google says Google Search doesn't use llms.txt. Treat it as an optional aid for other AI tools, not an SEO tactic.
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