The Complete llms.txt Guide
Everything you need to know about the llms.txt specification - the file that helps AI understand your website.
What is llms.txt?
llms.txt is an emerging standard (from llmstxt.org) that provides AI language models with a concise overview of your website. Think of it as robots.txt for AI assistants.
When AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity visit your site, they look for llms.txt to understand what you offer and where to find important content.
File Structure
The llms.txt format is simple, human-readable markdown with specific conventions.
Required Elements
# Site Name
H1 heading with your site/company name
> Description
Blockquote with brief site description
## Section
H2 headings to organize content categories
- [Title](/path): Description
Links with titles and descriptions
Optional Elements
### Subsection
H3 headings for nested organization
Plain text paragraphs
Additional context and explanations
- [Title](/path)
Links without descriptions (title only)
**Bold** and *italic*
Standard markdown formatting
Best Practices
Follow these guidelines for maximum AI discoverability.
Keep It Concise
AI models have context limits. Focus on your most important pages and content.
Use Clear Descriptions
Describe each link clearly. AI uses these to understand what the page contains.
Prioritize Top Content
List your most important and authoritative content first within each section.
Update Regularly
Keep llms.txt current. Add new content and remove outdated links.
Include Schema Links
Link to your JSON-LD schemas so AI can access structured data.
Use Absolute URLs
Or consistent relative paths. Ensure all links resolve correctly.
Deployment Locations
Where to place your llms.txt file for maximum discoverability.
/llms.txt
Root Location
Primary location. Most AI will look here first at yoursite.com/llms.txt
/.well-known/llms.txt
Standard Discovery
The .well-known directory is a standard location for discovery files.
/llms-full.txt
Extended Version
Optional detailed version with more content for comprehensive coverage.
GEOPro Generates All Three
When you use GEOPro, we automatically generate llms.txt in all standard locations, ensuring maximum AI discoverability.
Validating Your llms.txt
After creating your llms.txt, validate it to ensure proper formatting and functionality.
Visit yoursite.com/llms.txt in a browser
Ensure headings and links format correctly
Click through to verify no broken links
Should serve as text/plain or text/markdown