llms.txt
llms.txt is a plain-text file at the root of a site that tells language models what the site contains and where the important pages are.
Also known as: llms txt · AI crawler file
The idea is close to robots.txt, but the purpose is the opposite: robots.txt says what not to read, llms.txt offers a guided summary of what is worth reading.
It is a proposed convention rather than a standard, and no engine is obliged to use it. The cost of publishing one is a single file, which is why it is usually worth doing — but it should not be the only thing done for GEO.
Common questions
Do the engines actually read it?
Some tools do; there is no guarantee. Treat it as cheap insurance, not as a mechanism you can rely on.
What should it contain?
A short description of the site, and a list of the main pages with one line each — in plain language, not marketing copy.
How does this term apply to your work? Let us talk.
Get in touch