llms.txt
By the Pickgap team · Updated Oct 15, 2026 · 1 min read
llms.txt is a proposed standard, from 2024, for a Markdown file at a website's root that summarizes the site and links its most important pages for AI language models. Some developer tools use it, but the major AI search providers haven't said they use it to choose sources or recommendations.
What it contains
A typical llms.txt has:
- A title (the site or business name).
- A one-paragraph summary.
- Lists of links to key pages, each with a short description.
- Optional sections for less important pages.
It sits at yoursite.com/llms.txt, in the same spirit as robots.txt and sitemap.xml, but written for language models instead of crawlers.
Who uses it
Developer documentation sites use it so coding assistants can find their docs quickly. For AI search and local recommendations, there's no public evidence that ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity or Google's AI read it when choosing sources, and Google has said its search systems don't use it.
Should you add one?
It's harmless and takes minutes, so add one if your platform allows it, but don't expect it to change recommendations. Keep it short and accurate: what the business is, where it works, and links to your main service, location and contact pages. Your Google profile, reviews, listings and website content matter far more. See does llms.txt help SEO?