What Is llms.txt and How Do You Write One? With a Working Example
llms.txt is an optional proposed file that lists important site pages in Markdown. It is not an SEO requirement, and there is no demonstrated Google AI search ranking benefit from publishing one.
Where might it be useful?
It can provide a readable introduction and a curated list of links for a documentation site or a large knowledge base. Systems may use it differently, and its presence does not prove that visitors, citations or rankings will follow.
A small example
# Example Brand > Corporate digital experience and content design. ## Services - [Web experience](https://example.com/services/web): Design and development. ## Insights - [Guides](https://example.com/blog): Relevant articles.
Only include valid public links and current descriptions. Never place credentials, private information or internal documents in the file.
How does it differ from robots.txt and sitemap.xml?
robots.txt defines crawler access rules. sitemap.xml lists canonical URLs for discovery. llms.txt is an optional text index and does not replace either.
What matters more?
Start with crawlable pages, correct canonical URLs, original helpful content and useful internal links. Google says neither llms.txt nor special structured data is required for its AI search features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does llms.txt improve Google rankings?
There is no evidence or Google Search requirement for that. Google explicitly states that llms.txt is not needed for its AI search features.
Does llms.txt replace robots.txt?
No. robots.txt is an established protocol for crawler access rules. llms.txt is an optional proposed Markdown content index.
