llms.txt

[Jimmy_Carter]

What is the llms.txt file? Why it is important?

[Delaney martin]

llm.txt is a plain text file placed on your website that tells large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini how they can interact with your content.


What does it include?

• The file includes rules or permissions, such as:
• What parts of your website can or cannot be accessed
• Whether LLMs can store, index, or display your content

[Paul Schmidt]

What Does llms.txt Do?

llms.txt allows you to communicate directly with LLMs about how your content should be accessed, structured, and interpreted.

Just like robots.txt tells search engines how to interact with your site, llms.txt proposes guidelines specifically for AI models for:

• Structuring the content in a digestible format
• Providing context or summaries
• Pointing to LLM-specific data or raw content

However, unlike robots.txt, llms.txt doesn't block access to content. It’s not about restriction (Disallow: isn’t applicable here); rather, it’s about curation helping LLMs select or understand which parts of your site are relevant or preferred for training, summarization, or response generation.

[Annie_P]

Hey @Delaney martin, I want to add something to your response.


What Can You Include in llms.txt?


You can add:

• Direct URLs to key pages
• URLs with summaries of each page
• Full raw text of your site (flattened)
• Markdown (.md) versions of important content
• Split or categorize content across multiple files or directories

Example:

Some websites have used llms.txt to include their entire site’s content in a single, flattened plain-text file — running nearly a megabyte in size and containing extensive written material. However, your own implementation doesn’t need to follow the same scale. You can keep it lightweight, expand it further, or organize it across multiple files depending on the structure and needs of your website.

You also have the flexibility to create .md (Markdown, e.g. yourwebsite.com/your-page.md) versions of individual pages that you believe offer high value or deserve direct attention from LLMs. This is especially useful for sites with technical content, developer documentation, or detailed guides that benefit from clear, structured presentation.

[wisly.k]

While promising, it's important to know that llms.txt is still a proposed protocol.

As of now, major LLM providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google do not officially support llms.txt. Its impact remains speculative, but early adoption can help shape future standards and prepare your site for what’s to come.

[Ryaan J.]

Does llm.txt Matter for SEO and GEO?

SEO (Search Engine Optimization):
Currently, llm.txt does not directly impact SEO. Search engines like Google or Bing do not use llm.txt to crawl, rank, or index your content. SEO continues to rely on traditional signals like meta tags, content quality, backlinks, robots.txt, and sitemaps. However, if llm.txt becomes widely adopted by AI tools used in search-like experiences (such as AI Overviews or AI-generated answers), it could indirectly influence visibility in the future.


GEO (Generative Engine Optimization):
Yes, llm.txt is highly relevant to GEO, which focuses on optimizing content for AI models and LLM-powered platforms (like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity). You can guide LLMs to high-quality summaries, raw content, or structured information using llm.txt. It allows you to shape how your content is presented in AI-generated answers or citations. As LLMs become more integrated into search and browsing, a well-crafted llm.txt could give your site a competitive edge in AI-driven content discovery.