llms.txt is a proposed Markdown format for an overview of a website and selected links. It is optional and does not grant crawler access. Google Search ignores it, and the OpenAI guidance reviewed does not establish a citation benefit. Keep one accurate if it is useful to your workflow; do not treat it as a ranking requirement.
What the proposal describes
The llms.txt proposal describes a Markdown file containing a site name, a short summary, and curated links with descriptions. It can give a reader or tool a compact overview of selected material. Some implementations also provide fuller text separately.
The file is a proposal, not a universally required search standard. Publishing it does not prove that a particular search crawler reads it or that an assistant will cite the linked pages.
Different jobs for robots.txt, sitemaps, and llms.txt
- robots.txt declares crawler access rules.
- A sitemap lists URLs for discovery; it does not guarantee indexing.
- llms.txt is an optional overview of selected links. It does not override either of those files.
If a service page is blocked by your CDN or robots policy, adding its link to llms.txt does not remove that block.
Should a local business prioritize it?
Google's AI optimization guide says Google Search ignores llms.txt. The OpenAI crawler guidance reviewed for this article documents search and training access separately; it does not establish a visibility lift from this file.
Prioritize accurate service pages, useful original information, internal links, and crawler access. Keep an llms.txt file if it helps organize information for a workflow that uses it. Its presence is not evidence that your site is more likely to be recommended.
How to create and check the file
Use an H1 for the site name, a concise summary, and sections linking to selected pages with factual descriptions. Save the Markdown as llms.txt at the domain root. Open each resulting URL and verify that its description is still accurate.
Our free generator formats your inputs locally in the browser. It does not crawl the site, check the links, or verify the business facts. The finished file needs your review.
What to check before any optional overview
For ChatGPT Search, review OAI-SearchBot rules and the host or CDN settings for genuine searchbot requests. Check that important content appears as readable text in served HTML. Verify your actual service area and contact details, then link the pages people need from your navigation and relevant articles.
The technical scanner offers a limited check of observed website signals. A scanner result, an optional file, and an AI recommendation are different things. Our AIO guide explains those limits.
Common questions
What is llms.txt?
llms.txt is a proposed Markdown overview of a website with selected links and factual descriptions. It is optional and does not grant crawler access.
Is llms.txt required for AI search?
No reviewed OpenAI guidance establishes it as a ChatGPT Search requirement. Google says Search ignores it. Prioritize useful accessible pages and accurate business information.
Does llms.txt replace robots.txt or a sitemap?
No. Robots.txt controls crawler access rules, a sitemap lists URLs for discovery, and llms.txt is an optional overview. The overview cannot override access restrictions.
Will llms.txt make an AI assistant cite my business?
There is no established citation benefit in the primary guidance reviewed here. Do not promise visibility or treat a missing file as a failed search-readiness check.
Does the generator verify my links?
No. The generator formats what you type in the browser. Open every finished link and verify each description before publishing the file.
Start with your actual website
A free consultation with the owner can review useful content, accurate business facts, and crawl access before optional files.
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