What is llms.txt?
llms.txt is a proposed plain-text file at the root of a website, written in Markdown, that gives AI tools a short summary of the site and links to its most useful pages. The format is described at llmstxt.org.
Does llms.txt help my site appear in AI answers?
There is no confirmed benefit yet. No major AI search engine has said it uses llms.txt for ranking or citations, so treat it as optional and low priority. Crawler access, server-rendered content and clear answers on your pages matter more today.
What should an llms.txt file contain?
An H1 with the site name is the only required part. After it, add a one or two sentence summary as a blockquote, then H2 sections with lists of links in the form - [Page name](https://example.com/page): what it covers. A section named “Optional” marks links that tools can skip.
# Example Co
> Example Co makes waterproof hiking boots for wide feet.
## Key pages
- [Boot finder](https://example.com/finder): Match a boot to your foot shape
- [Returns](https://example.com/returns): 60-day return policyWhere do I put llms.txt?
Serve it from the root of your domain as https://yourdomain.com/llms.txt, as plain text. Keep it short and update it when your key pages change.
Related free tools
- AI crawler checker – see which AI crawlers your robots.txt allows
- Website SEO & AI search audit – on-page and AI readiness checks