What is llms.txt and how it helps AI crawlers
Introduction
As artificial intelligence and large language models (LLMs) become increasingly integrated into how we interact with web content, website owners need new ways to make their content more accessible and understandable to AI systems. Enter LLMS.txt – a standardized format that helps AI understand your website’s structure and content more effectively.
What is LLMS.txt?
LLMS.txt is a plain text file that provides a structured, AI-friendly representation of your website’s content. Think of it as a “menu” or “table of contents” that AI systems can easily read and understand, similar to howrobots.txt helps search engines understand crawling permissions, or how sitemap.xmlhelps them discover your pages.
The file typically contains:
- Basic website information (title, description, contact)
- A structured list of important pages and their content
- Key information about your website’s purpose and offerings
- Guidelines for AI interaction (what to focus on, what to avoid)
Why Do You Need LLMS.txt?
1. Improved AI Understanding
When AI systems interact with your website, they often struggle to understand the hierarchy and importance of different pages. LLMS.txt provides context that helps AI:
- Understand your website’s main purpose and offerings
- Identify the most important content and pages
- Comprehend the relationship between different sections
- Provide more accurate responses about your business or content
2. Better User Experience
When users interact with AI chatbots or assistants that have access to your LLMS.txt file, they get:
- More accurate information about your products or services
- Better answers to questions about your business
- Relevant recommendations based on your actual offerings
3. Future-Proofing
As AI becomes more prevalent in search and discovery, having an LLMS.txt file positions your website to:
- Be better understood by future AI systems
- Potentially rank better in AI-powered search results
- Provide better integration with AI-powered tools and services
LLMS.txt File Structure
A typical LLMS.txt file follows a simple, readable format. Here’s an example structure:
# Example Website > A brief description of what your website is about ## Contact - Email: contact@example.com - Website: https://example.com ## Pages ### Home URL: https://example.com/ Main landing page with overview of services ### About Us URL: https://example.com/about Information about our company and team ### Products URL: https://example.com/products Complete list of our products and services ### Blog URL: https://example.com/blog Latest news and insights from our team ## Crawling Rules Disallow: /admin Disallow: /private Disallow: /temp
Key Components Explained
Header Section
The header includes your website’s title and a brief description that summarizes what your site is about.
Contact Information
Provides ways for AI systems (and users) to understand how to contact you or learn more about your organization.
Pages Section
Lists your most important pages with:
- Page titles that clearly identify the content
- URLs for direct access
- Brief descriptions explaining what each page contains
Crawling Rules
Similar to robots.txt, this section tells AI systems which parts of your site to avoid, such as admin areas, private content, or irrelevant pages.
Best Practices
Keep It Simple and Clear
- Use plain language that both humans and AI can understand
- Keep descriptions concise but informative
- Focus on your most important content
Stay Updated
- Update your LLMS.txt file when you add new important pages
- Remove or update descriptions for pages that have changed
- Review and refresh content regularly
Focus on Value
- Include pages that provide the most value to users
- Highlight unique aspects of your business or content
- Don’t include every page – quality over quantity
How to Create Your LLMS.txt File
Creating an LLMS.txt file is straightforward:
- Use our generator – The easiest way is to use our LLMS.txt Generator tool
- Manual creation – Create a plain text file following the structure above
- Place it correctly – Upload the file to your website’s root directory (e.g.,
https://yoursite.com/llms.txt) - Test and validate – Check that the file is accessible and properly formatted
Common Use Cases
Business Websites
Help AI understand your services, products, and how customers can engage with your business.
E-commerce Sites
Provide clear information about product categories, policies, and customer service options.
Content Websites and Blogs
Highlight your main topics, popular articles, and content categories for better AI comprehension.
Documentation Sites
Help AI navigate complex documentation structures and understand the hierarchy of information.
Conclusion
LLMS.txt files represent an important step toward making the web more AI-friendly while maintaining human readability. By implementing an LLMS.txt file, you’re not just preparing for the future of AI interaction – you’re actively improving how users discover and understand your content today.
Ready to create your own LLMS.txt file? Try our free generator toolto get started in minutes, or explore our other guides for platform-specific implementations.