llms.txt is an optional text summary of a website. It can help systems that choose to use it find key pages. It is not a search-ranking requirement.
The file, plainly
The file sits at a predictable address, such as example.com/llms.txt. It summarizes the site and links to useful pages in a simple text format.
Keep it factual: who the business is, what it offers, where it serves, and which pages explain the work. Update it when those facts change. Leave out invented claims and instructions that conflict with visible content.
How it fits with robots.txt and schema
Keep the roles of these files distinct:
- robots.txt manages crawling. It gives instructions to crawlers that follow its rules. It is not an access-security mechanism, and a blocked URL can still appear in Google Search.
- Schema markup explains pages. Structured data inside each page tells engines precisely what that page is: a business, a menu, an FAQ, an article, with machine-readable fields.
- llms.txt explains the whole. It is the site-level summary: the map and the briefing, curated by the business, in one predictable place.
The site comes first. If people can reach your pages and the pages say something useful, a summary file is a small extra. It should describe what is already there, never replace it. Schema markup is a different tool, and we explain it in what schema markup does.
Build the useful site first. Then write a summary that tells the truth about it.
What it does and does not do
Google is direct about this: llms.txt has no effect on visibility or rankings in Google Search. Other systems may read the file, though, and it costs little to keep. Do not expect a citation or a correct answer because of it. Google Search does not use it for visibility or rankings.
Spend your time on the pages customers actually use. Make them easy to crawl and worth reading, and keep your business facts identical everywhere they appear. Our SEO and AI search guide covers the bigger picture. Guide: SEO and AI search.
What to put in the file
Short and plain wins. Many files use Markdown: the business name as a title, a quick summary, then a list of links with a few words on each.
How to decide if it is worth adding
Add one when your main pages are already clear and someone can keep the file current. It takes little effort to write, but a stale summary can spread old facts.
Put it lower on the list if core pages are missing or your business details differ across listings. Fix those first with the local SEO checklist. To see how AI answers and Google results differ, read ChatGPT vs Google for local search.
Common mistakes
Most problems come from a file that drifts away from the real site.
- Linking to pages that redirect, were removed, or need a login.
- Adding claims or offers that do not appear on the site.
- Including hidden instructions aimed at AI systems.
- Forgetting to update links after a redesign or a change of address.
- Blocking crawlers in robots.txt and expecting llms.txt to make up for it.
We practice this on our own site
WTM Studio publishes an llms.txt summary and an ai.txt file. They accompany the public website. They do not replace robots.txt or control whether a search engine includes a page. wtmstudio.agency/llms.txt /ai.txt.
About llms.txt, in plain answers
Does llms.txt help Google rankings?
No. Google says llms.txt does not affect visibility or rankings in Google Search.
Is llms.txt the same as robots.txt?
No. robots.txt gives crawling instructions to crawlers that follow its rules. llms.txt is an optional summary of the site and its key pages.
Will llms.txt make AI cite my website?
Not on its own. It does not guarantee a citation or an accurate answer. Useful, crawlable pages remain the priority.
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