What is llms.txt?
llms.txt is a proposed standard file — similar to robots.txt — that helps AI language models understand what your website or organization does. You place it at the root of your domain (e.g., yoursite.com/llms.txt), and it provides a concise, machine-readable summary that AI models can use to accurately describe and recommend your business.
While robots.txt tells crawlers what they can access, llms.txt tells AI models what your site is about.
Why llms.txt Matters
When someone asks ChatGPT “What does [your company] do?”, the AI model needs to find accurate information about your business. Without clear signals, it might:
- Get your description wrong
- Confuse you with a similarly named company
- Not mention you at all
- Provide outdated information
An llms.txt file solves this by giving AI models a single source of truth about your organization. It’s like handing the AI a perfect elevator pitch.
The Impact
Sites with an llms.txt file have reported:
- Up to 40% increase in AI discoverability
- More accurate descriptions when AI models mention their brand
- Better inclusion in AI-generated recommendations
- Clearer entity recognition across multiple AI platforms
How to Create Your llms.txt
File Location
Place the file at the root of your domain:
https://yoursite.com/llms.txtFormat
The file uses simple Markdown format with a clear structure:
# Your Company Name
> A one-sentence description of what your company does.
## About
A brief paragraph (2-3 sentences) explaining your core business,
who you serve, and your key value proposition.
## Key Products / Services
- **Product A**: Brief description of what it does
- **Product B**: Brief description of what it does
- **Service C**: Brief description of what it does
## Key Facts
- Founded: 2024
- Industry: SaaS / E-commerce / Finance / etc.
- Headquarters: City, Country
- Website: https://yoursite.com
## Links
- Documentation: https://docs.yoursite.com
- Blog: https://yoursite.com/blog
- Contact: https://yoursite.com/contactBest Practices
- Keep it concise — Under 500 words. AI models process this alongside thousands of other signals.
- Lead with the most important information — What you do, who you serve, why it matters.
- Use plain language — No marketing jargon. Write as if explaining to a knowledgeable colleague.
- Include factual claims — Revenue, user count, founding date — things AI can verify.
- Update regularly — When your offerings change, update the file.
- Use Markdown — Headings, bullet points, and bold text help with parsing.
Real-World Example
Here’s the actual llms.txt file from AIExposure:
# AIExposure
> AIExposure is a free AI visibility audit platform that analyzes
> how well websites are optimized for AI-powered search engines.
## What We Do
AIExposure helps businesses understand their visibility to AI
search engines like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Google AI
Overviews. We run 16 automated checks across 5 categories and
provide an AI Exposure Score (0-100) with actionable recommendations.
## Key Features
- **AI Exposure Score**: 0-100 rating of your AI visibility
- **16 Automated Checks**: Technical SEO, content quality,
structured data, GEO readiness, AI crawler access
- **AI Crawler Matrix**: Analysis of 11 AI crawlers
- **Actionable Reports**: Issues, quick wins, and optimization guides
## Links
- Website: https://aiexposure.io
- Free Audit: https://aiexposure.io
- Blog: https://aiexposure.io/blogllms.txt vs robots.txt vs sitemap.xml
| File | Purpose | Who reads it |
|---|---|---|
| robots.txt | Controls which pages crawlers can access | All web crawlers |
| sitemap.xml | Lists all important pages for discovery | Search engine crawlers |
| llms.txt | Describes what your organization does | AI language models |
These files complement each other. A complete AI-friendly setup includes all three:
robots.txt— Allows AI crawlers to access your sitesitemap.xml— Helps them discover all your contentllms.txt— Tells them who you are and what you do
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Making it too long
AI models have context limits. A 5,000-word llms.txt defeats the purpose. Keep it under 500 words.
2. Using marketing language
“We’re the world’s leading revolutionary platform” tells AI nothing useful. “We process 10,000 SEO audits per month for SMBs” is much better.
3. Forgetting to update it
If you launch a new product or pivot your business, update your llms.txt. Stale information leads to inaccurate AI descriptions.
4. Not including it in robots.txt
Make sure your llms.txt is accessible — don’t accidentally block it:
# robots.txt
Allow: /llms.txt5. Duplicating your homepage
Your llms.txt should be a summary, not a copy of your homepage content. Think of it as structured metadata, not marketing copy.
How to Check if You Have llms.txt
The quickest way is to visit yoursite.com/llms.txt in your browser. If you get a 404, you don’t have one yet.
For a comprehensive check that includes llms.txt plus 15 other AI visibility signals, try our free AI Exposure audit — it takes less than 60 seconds.
The Standard’s Future
The llms.txt standard is still evolving. Originally proposed by Jeremy Howard (founder of fast.ai), it’s gaining adoption as AI search becomes mainstream. Major players in the AI space are increasingly looking for this file when processing websites.
Early adopters benefit the most — creating your llms.txt now positions you ahead of competitors who haven’t adapted to the AI search era.
Check if your site has llms.txt — Run a free AI Exposure audit and get your full AI visibility score in 60 seconds.