What is LLMs.txt?
Definition
LLMs.txt is a proposed standard text file placed at a website's root that provides context, instructions, and preferences to large language models about how to understand and represent the site's content.
Why llms.txt matters
LLMs.txt matters because AI assistants are becoming primary discovery channels for information. As users increasingly ask ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and similar tools about products, services, and topics, websites need ways to influence how their information is interpreted and presented.
Unlike search engines that link to sources, LLMs synthesize information into direct answers. Without clear guidance, AI systems may misrepresent your brand, use outdated information, or miss key context that affects accuracy.
LLMs.txt represents proactive control over AI representation. Rather than leaving interpretation entirely to AI training data, you can provide authoritative context about your organization, offerings, and how you want information presented.
Key concepts and types
- •Structured context
Providing organized information about your website's purpose, content, and key facts for AI consumption. - •Brand representation
Guiding how AI systems describe and represent your organization. - •Fact prioritization
Highlighting which information is most important or current. - •Update signals
Indicating when information was last verified or updated. - •Relationship to robots.txt
Complementary file serving AI assistants rather than search crawlers.
Common misconceptions
- ✕LLMs.txt is an official web standard
- ✕All AI systems respect LLMs.txt instructions
- ✕LLMs.txt can prevent AI from accessing your content
- ✕LLMs.txt replaces the need for quality content
- ✕Only large companies need LLMs.txt
Related terms
FAQs
Is LLMs.txt an official standard?
Not yet. LLMs.txt is an emerging proposal for standardizing AI-website communication. Adoption is growing, but there's no universal specification that all AI systems follow.
How is LLMs.txt different from robots.txt?
Robots.txt controls crawler access and behavior. LLMs.txt provides context and instructions for how AI should understand and represent your content—it's about interpretation, not access control.
Should you implement LLMs.txt now?
Early adoption can provide advantages as AI discovery grows. Even without universal support, creating an LLMs.txt helps clarify your own messaging and prepares for future standardization.