LLMs.txt: What is It?

Imagine you’ve built a fantastic website full of valuable information, but when someone asks an AI like ChatGPT or Claude about your content, it struggles to find or understand it. 

In a world where web traffic from search engines is decreasing, and AI searches are constantly increasing, that’s a big issue for your business going forward.

That’s where LLMs.txt comes in. You may have heard the term come up in SEO circles a lot lately, and wondered exactly what it means. In short, it’s a simple file that acts like a map, helping artificial intelligence systems navigate and use your website’s content effectively. 

Unlike the familiar robots.txt, which tells search engine bots what they can or cannot crawl, LLMs.txt is designed specifically for large language models (LLMs), the tech behind today’s AI chatbots and assistants. Let’s explore what LLMs.txt is, why it matters, and how you can use it to make your website AI-friendly.

What Is LLMs.txt?

LLMs.txt is a text file placed at the root of your website (like yourwebsite.com/llms.txt) that provides a clear, structured overview of your site’s content in a format AI systems can easily understand. 

Think of it as a friendly guidebook for AI, pointing out your most important pages, summarising key information, and even offering full text in a clean, Markdown format. It’s not about controlling access like robots.txt; instead, it’s about delivering content in a way that AI can quickly process and use to answer user questions accurately.

For example, if you run a tech company with detailed product documentation, your LLMs.txt might include a summary of your software, links to key pages, or even the full text of your user guides. This helps AI systems like Perplexity or Google Gemini find and share your content when someone asks, “How does this software work?”

Why LLMs.txt Is Different from Robots.txt

If you’re familiar with SEO (search engine optimisation), you’ve likely heard of robots.txt and sitemap.xml. These files help search engines like Google crawl and index your site. But AI systems work differently—they don’t always crawl the web like Googlebot. Instead, they rely on direct access to content or specific prompts from users. Here’s how LLMs.txt stands out:

  • Purpose: Robots.txt controls which parts of your site bots can access, using rules like “Disallow: /private/”. LLMs.txt doesn’t block or allow; it highlights your best content for AI to use, like a curated menu.
  • Format: Robots.txt uses a simple text format with strict rules. LLMs.txt uses Markdown, a human- and machine-readable format with headings (#), lists (-), and links, making it easy for AI to parse.
  • Use Case: Robots.txt is checked during web crawling for search indexing. LLMs.txt is used “on demand” when an AI needs to answer a question, like when someone asks about your brand or products.
  • Content: Robots.txt is about access rules. LLMs.txt can include summaries, full text, or links to important pages, giving AI a quick snapshot of your site.

In short, robots.txt is like a gatekeeper, while LLMs.txt is a welcoming host, guiding AI to your most valuable content.

Why Should You Care About LLMs.txt?

As AI-powered search and chatbots become more popular, optimising for AI (sometimes called Generative Engine Optimisation or GEO) is just as important as traditional SEO. LLMs.txt helps your website stay visible in this new landscape. Here’s why it’s worth your attention:

  1. Better AI Visibility: AI systems often struggle with complex HTML, JavaScript, or cluttered web pages. LLMs.txt provides a clean, streamlined version of your content, increasing the chances that AI will cite or reference your site.
  2. Improved User Experience: When AI understands your content better, it can give more accurate, context-rich answers to users, which can drive more traffic to your site.
  3. Future-Proofing: AI search is growing fast. Early adopters of LLMs.txt can get a head start in making their sites AI-friendly, just like early SEO adopters benefited from optimising for Google.
  4. Control Over Content: By curating what AI sees, you can ensure it focuses on your most important pages or messages, rather than outdated or irrelevant content.

For example, Anthropic, the company behind Claude, has added an LLMs.txt file to its site, summarising its AI models and linking to key documentation. This makes it easier for other AI systems to reference Anthropic accurately.

How to Create an LLMs.txt File

Creating an LLMs.txt file is straightforward, especially if you’re already familiar with basic web files like sitemap.xml. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Decide What to Include

Think about what you want AI systems to know about your site. Common elements include:

  • A brief summary of your website or business.
  • Links to key pages (e.g., product pages, blog posts, or documentation).
  • Full text of important content, like FAQs or user guides, in Markdown format.
  • Optional metadata, like your site’s name or contact info.

For a small blog, your LLMs.txt might list your top posts. For a SaaS company, it might include API docs or pricing details.

2. Write in Markdown

Use Markdown for its simplicity and AI compatibility. Here’s a basic example:

# My Awesome Website

Welcome to My Awesome Website, your go-to source for tech tips and tutorials.

 

## About

We provide easy-to-follow guides on coding, AI, and web development.

 

## Key Pages

– [Home](https://mywebsite.com)

– [Learn Python](https://mywebsite.com/python)

– [AI Basics](https://mywebsite.com/ai-basics)

 

## Full Text: AI Basics

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how we work and live. This guide covers the fundamentals of AI, including machine learning and LLMs…

This format is clean, structured, and easy for AI to read.

3. Save and Upload

Save the file as llms.txt and place it in your website’s root directory (yourwebsite.com/llms.txt). If you use WordPress, you can upload it to the public_html folder or use a plugin to manage it.

4. Test and Monitor

Check that the file is accessible by visiting yourwebsite.com/llms.txt in a browser. Use tools like Firecrawl or Mintlify to validate the format. Monitor your server logs to see if AI bots are accessing the file, and update it as your site changes.

Real-World Examples

Some companies are already embracing LLMs.txt:

  • Mintlify, a documentation platform, added LLMs.txt support in November 2024, making thousands of developer docs AI-friendly overnight.
  • Anthropic uses LLMs.txt to summarise its AI models and link to technical docs, boosting its visibility in AI responses.
  • A personal website might use LLMs.txt to highlight a portfolio or blog, with a file size of 100 KB or more, containing full text for key pages.

These examples show how LLMs.txt can work for businesses, developers, or even individuals.

Challenges and Considerations

While LLMs.txt is promising, it’s still a proposed standard, not a universal rule. Here are some things to keep in mind:

  • Adoption: Major AI providers like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic haven’t fully committed to using LLMs.txt. For now, it’s more of a community-driven idea.
  • No Enforcement: Unlike robots.txt, which bots are expected to follow, LLMs.txt is voluntary. AI systems might ignore it or not check for it at all.
  • Maintenance: Like any web file, LLMs.txt needs regular updates to stay relevant as your site evolves.
  • SEO Overlap: Some argue that existing tools like sitemap.xml and schema markup already help AI understand your site, making LLMs.txt less necessary.

Despite these challenges, LLMs.txt is easy to implement and low-risk, making it worth trying for sites that want to stay ahead in AI optimisation.

Tips for Maximising LLMs.txt Impact

To get the most out of LLMs.txt, follow these best practices:

  • Keep It Simple: Focus on clear, concise content that AI can process quickly.
  • Use Structured Data: Combine LLMs.txt with schema markup to give AI even more context about your pages.
  • Avoid Conflicts: Ensure LLMs.txt doesn’t contradict your robots.txt rules (e.g., don’t link to pages blocked by robots.txt).
  • Leverage Tools: Use generators like Firecrawl or community tools like llmstxt.directory to create and test your file.
  • Monitor Traffic: Check if AI bots like ClaudeBot or PerplexityBot are accessing your LLMs.txt, and adjust based on their behavior.

The Future of LLMs.txt

As AI continues to shape how we find and share information, LLMs.txt could become as common as robots.txt or sitemap.xml. It’s part of a broader shift toward AI-driven search, where websites need to speak directly to algorithms, not just humans. If adopted widely, LLMs.txt could give website owners more control over how their content is used by AI, addressing concerns about data scraping and copyright.

For now, LLMs.txt is a low-effort, high-potential tool for making your site AI-ready. Whether you’re a blogger, a SaaS company, or a content creator, it’s a simple way to ensure AI systems can find and share your content accurately.

Get Started Today

Ready to make your website AI-friendly? Create an LLMs.txt file, upload it to your site, and start experimenting. It’s a small step that could give you a big advantage in the AI-powered search era. For more inspiration, check out examples on sites like Anthropic or explore tools like Mintlify and Firecrawl. Stay ahead of the curve, and let AI help your content shine!

Still need more help carrying this out, or curious about other ways to boost your web presence? Get in touch now!