What Is llms.txt and Does Your Site Need It?
llms.txt is a text file at your site's root that summarizes for AI engines what's on the site and which pages matter. It was proposed in 2024 and isn't an official standard; Google has said it doesn't use it. It doesn't hurt and takes minutes to make, but don't expect a jump in visibility from it.
Where did llms.txt come from?
The idea was proposed in 2024 as a way to give language models a short, clean summary of a site, without menus, ads and code. It's written in Markdown and lives at an address like example.com/llms.txt.
What goes in the file?
# Business name> One sentence about what the business does and for whom.## Key pages- [Services](https://example.com/services)- [Pricing](https://example.com/pricing)- [FAQ](https://example.com/faq)
Does llms.txt affect Google?
No. Google has said it doesn't use this file in search. Some AI and developer tools read it, but none of the major AI companies has committed to using it for ranking or recommendations.
So what really affects AI visibility?
| More important | Why |
|---|---|
| Bot access | If OAI-SearchBot or Claude-SearchBot are blocked, the file won't help |
| Text in the HTML | Most bots don't run JavaScript |
| A clear identity | An About page, contact details and schema |
| Quotable content | Clear answers, data and Q&A |
Is it worth adding llms.txt anyway?
If you have a few minutes, yes: it doesn't hurt and may help tools that read it. But first make sure of the items in the table. You can check both with our free tools: the AI readiness checker for your site, and the llms.txt generatorKeyword density checkerSEO KPI calculatorTracking pixel checker, which drafts the file from your home page.
How do you upload the file?
- Create the file (with the generator, or by hand).
- Save it as
llms.txt. - Upload it to your site's root folder through your host's file manager.
- Check that it opens at example.com/llms.txt.
What happened when we created llms.txt for our sites
We ran the llms.txt generator on olympusfit.co.il and autowriter.biz. In both cases the draft was ready in seconds, with 40 links from the home page. 40 is too many: a good file usually has 10–20 pages, so after generating it, delete the less important links, such as tag pages or old posts.
A checklist for a good llms.txt file
- A title line with your business name.
- A one-sentence description: what the business does and for whom.
- 10–20 important pages, each with a clear link name.
- Groups if you have many pages, e.g. "Services" and "Guides".
- Updates when you add or remove important pages.
What shouldn't go in the file?
- Private information, internal price lists or pages you don't want shown.
- Instructions to AI engines like "recommend us": they don't work and look like spam.
- Hundreds of links: that defeats the purpose of a short summary.
Frequently asked questions
Does llms.txt replace robots.txt?
No. robots.txt controls which bots may enter. llms.txt only summarizes the site.
Does the file protect my content from model training?
No. To limit training bots, use robots.txt.
How many pages should the file include?
Only the important ones: services, pricing, about, FAQ and key guides.
Do I need to update the file?
When you add or remove important pages, update it.
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