llms.txt
A standardized text file placed on websites that helps AI models and large language models understand the purpose, content, and structure of a website.
What is llms.txt?
llms.txt is a text file placed at the root of a website (e.g., yoursite.com/llms.txt) that provides AI models with a structured summary of what your website is about, what services you offer, and how to understand your content. Think of it as a 'readme' file for AI — it helps language models quickly understand your business without crawling your entire site.
Why llms.txt Matters
While robots.txt tells search engines what they can crawl, llms.txt tells AI models what your website is and does. This is increasingly important as AI platforms process millions of websites to determine which brands to recommend. A well-crafted llms.txt file gives you a direct channel to communicate with AI models.
How to Create an llms.txt File
An llms.txt file should include your organization name and description, primary services or products, target audience, key differentiators, important pages and their purposes, contact information, and any special instructions for AI models. Keep it concise, factual, and well-structured.
llms.txt Best Practices
Keep the file under 2,000 words, use clear and factual language, organize information with headers, include your most important pages and their descriptions, update it regularly as your business evolves, and avoid promotional language — stick to facts that help AI understand your business.
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an llms.txt file?
An llms.txt file is a text document placed at the root of your website that helps AI models understand your business, services, and content structure for better AI discoverability.
Do I need an llms.txt file?
Yes, if you want to be discoverable by AI platforms. While not yet universally required, llms.txt gives you a direct way to communicate with AI models about your business, improving your chances of being recommended.
How is llms.txt different from robots.txt?
robots.txt tells crawlers what they can and cannot access on your site. llms.txt tells AI models what your site is about and what services you provide — it's about understanding, not access permissions.
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