What is llms.txt? A plain-English guide for business websites
Updated 2026-10-27
llms.txt is a markdown file placed at the root of your website (yoursite.com/llms.txt) that summarises who you are, what you offer and which pages matter, in a form AI models can read quickly. It was proposed in 2024 and is not an official web standard, and no major AI provider has publicly committed to using it, so treat it as a low-cost clarity aid rather than a ranking switch.
What goes in an llms.txt file
The proposal uses simple markdown: a title, a one-paragraph summary in a blockquote, then short sections with links to your most important pages.
# Acme Plumbing
> Acme Plumbing is a licensed residential plumbing company serving Austin, Texas. We offer emergency repairs, water heater installation and drain cleaning.
## Services
- [Emergency repairs](https://example.com/emergency): 24/7 call-out within 60 minutes
- [Water heaters](https://example.com/water-heaters): installation and replacement
## Company
- [About](https://example.com/about)
- [Contact](https://example.com/contact)llms.txt or llm.txt?
The published proposal uses the plural name, /llms.txt. Some tools and articles say /llm.txt. If you want to be safe, publish the same content at both paths. LLMSpotter does this itself.
Does llms.txt improve AI recommendations?
Honestly, nobody can promise it does. AI answers are driven mainly by what the model learned in training and by pages retrieved at answer time. llms.txt helps most when a tool or agent fetches it directly, and it forces you to write down a clear, consistent description of your business, which is useful on its own.
It works best alongside the basics: crawlers allowed in robots.txt, a sitemap, structured data and content that is readable without JavaScript.
Generate one now
Use the free llms.txt generator at /tools/llms-txt-generator to build the file in your browser, then upload it to your site root.
Checklist
- Use plain facts: what you do, where, for whom, pricing if public.
- Keep it short, under about one screen of text.
- Link only to pages that are public and return HTTP 200.
- Match the wording used on your site and your listings. Inconsistency confuses models.
- Update it when your offering changes.