What is LLMS.txt? Complete Guide to AI Crawler Files
Everything you need to know about llms.txt, the new standard for helping AI language models understand your website.
What is LLMS.txt?
LLMS.txt is a standardized file format that provides structured, curated information about your website specifically designed for AI language models and crawlers. Think of it as a "sitemap for AI" — but much more powerful.
While traditional sitemaps (sitemap.xml) simply list URLs for search engines, llms.txt provides:
- Hierarchical structure showing relationships between content
- Context and descriptions for each link
- Organized sections (Documentation, Blog, API, etc.)
- Important notes about your content or platform
- Expert-level summaries that help AI understand your site's purpose
Why Do You Need LLMS.txt?
As AI language models become the primary way users discover and interact with information, having a well-structured llms.txt file is crucial:
Better AI Referencing
Help ChatGPT, Claude, and other LLMs accurately reference and cite your content when answering user questions.
Improved Indexing
AI crawlers can better understand your site structure, leading to more accurate content discovery.
Future-Proof
As AI becomes the primary search interface, llms.txt positions your content for discovery.
Control & Context
Provide context about your content that AI models wouldn't understand from raw HTML.
LLMS.txt File Format
The official specification from llmstxt.org defines the following structure:
# Project Name > Brief, expert-level description of what this site/project does Important notes: - Key contextual information - Critical details for AI understanding - Compatibility notes ## Documentation - [Getting Started](url): Introduction and setup guide - [API Reference](url): Complete API documentation - Advanced Topics - [Authentication](url): How auth works - [Deployment](url): Production deployment guide ## Examples - [Tutorial 1](url): Step-by-step walkthrough - [Tutorial 2](url): Advanced patterns ## Optional - [Changelog](url): Version history - [Community](url): Forums and discussion
Real-World Example: Inngest.com
Inngest's llms.txt file is an excellent example of professional implementation:
- Clear H1 title: "# Inngest"
- Concise blockquote describing their platform
- Hierarchical documentation structure with nested sections
- Proper indentation showing parent-child relationships
- Organized into Documentation, Examples, and References sections
- Links include context and descriptions
How to Create Your LLMS.txt File
Option 1: Use Our Generator (Recommended)
The fastest way: Use our #1 LLMS.txt Generator. Just enter your URL and get a professional, AI-generated llms.txt file in 15 seconds.
Option 2: Manual Creation
- Create a new text file named
llms.txt - Follow the specification structure (H1, blockquote, H2 sections)
- Organize your content hierarchically with proper indentation
- Add descriptions for each link
- Validate against llmstxt.org specification
Which AI Crawlers Support LLMS.txt?
Growing list of AI systems that recognize and use llms.txt:
Best Practices
Keep descriptions concise and expert-level (avoid marketing language)
Use hierarchical structure with proper indentation
Include your most important content in main sections
Put secondary content in "Optional" section
Update regularly when content structure changes
Don't just copy your sitemap.xml
Don't include every single page (curate the important ones)
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