llms.txt explained: what it is and how to write one

What it is

The llms.txt idea was proposed by Jeremy Howard of Answer.AI. The proposal describes a Markdown file at the root of a site that gives language-model-based tools a brief overview and links to more detailed pages. It is a proposal, not an official standard from a standards body.

According to the proposal, the file is meant mainly to help when an AI tool is answering a question, not for training. It is also described as complementing robots.txt and sitemap.xml rather than replacing them.

The format

The proposal describes these parts, in order.

• A top-level heading with the name of the site or project. This is the only required part.
• A short summary in a blockquote with the key context.
• Optional paragraphs or lists with more detail, but no further headings.
• Optional second-level sections that each hold a list of links, written as [name](url) with an optional colon and a note.
• By convention, a section called Optional for secondary links that a tool can skip when it needs less.

Here is a made-up example for a fictional shop.

# Example Bakery

> A neighborhood bakery. This file lists our menu, hours and ordering pages.

## Pages

- [Menu](https://example.com/menu): Current items and allergen notes
- [Hours and location](https://example.com/visit): When and where to find us
- [Order ahead](https://example.com/order): How to place a pickup order

## Optional

- [Our story](https://example.com/about): Background on the bakery

Where the file goes

The proposal puts the file at the root of the site, so it is served at /llms.txt, and also allows it in a subpath where it covers the pages beneath. In a Next.js project, a file placed in the public folder is served from the site root, so public/llms.txt becomes yourdomain.com/llms.txt.

What to put in it

• A plain, accurate description of what the site is and who it is for.
• Links only to pages that exist and that you want people to find.
• Details that you will keep up to date. Out-of-date prices or product details in the file are worse than leaving them out, so link to the page that holds the current information instead.

What it will and will not do

Nothing guarantees that any particular AI assistant or search engine reads the file, and using it is voluntary on both sides. The proposal notes that many sites and documentation platforms have adopted it, but adoption is not the same as a proven effect on how a site appears in answers. Treat it as inexpensive housekeeping, not a ranking trick.

How to check yours

• Open yourdomain.com/llms.txt in a browser and confirm it loads as plain text.
• Click every link in it to make sure none are broken.
• Set a reminder to review it whenever you change your main pages or products.

Last checked against the llms.txt proposal at llmstxt.org on October 13, 2026.