llms.txt: The Complete Guide

llms.txt is a simple, proposed standard: a plain-text or Markdown file at the root of your domain (/llms.txt) that gives AI models a curated, easy-to-read map of your most important content — the way robots.txt guides crawlers and a sitemap lists your URLs.

Why it exists

AI models work best with clean, concise, well-organized context. A typical web page is full of navigation, scripts and clutter that waste a model’s limited context window. llms.txt lets you hand the model a tidy index of what matters — your key pages, what they cover, and links to clean versions — so it can understand and represent your business accurately.

What it looks like

# Your Business Name
> One-sentence description of what you do and who you serve.

## Core pages
- [What we do](https://example.com/services): Overview of services and who they're for
- [Pricing](https://example.com/pricing): Plans and costs
- [FAQ](https://example.com/faq): Common buyer questions answered

## About
- [Our story](https://example.com/about): Company background and expertise

How to add one

1. Create a file named llms.txt with an H1 (your name), a blockquote summary, then Markdown link lists of your key pages with short descriptions.
2. Upload it to your domain root so it’s reachable at https://yourdomain.com/llms.txt.
3. Optionally add llms-full.txt with fuller content for models that want depth.
4. Keep it current as your site changes.

Does it work yet?

llms.txt is an emerging convention, not yet universally consumed by every engine. Treat it as low-cost insurance: it takes minutes, can only help, and signals that you’re structured for AI. It is not a substitute for the fundamentals — consistent facts, schema, question-first content and off-site presence still do the heavy lifting. See the full checklist.