# What is llms.txt?

> llms.txt is a proposed plain-text file at the root of a website that gives AI tools a short, readable summary of the site and links to its key pages.

- Source: https://nerdsharks.com/glossary/llms-txt
- Publisher: Nerdsharks (Exeter, Devon, UK)
- Updated: 2026-09-26

Also called: LLMs.txt, llms-full.txt.

llms.txt is an idea proposed in 2024 for a simple file, placed at yoursite.co.uk/llms.txt, written in a lightweight format called Markdown. It gives large language models, the technology behind AI chatbots, a tidy summary of what the site is and where the important information lives.

It is a convention some sites have adopted, not an official standard. Google has said it does not use llms.txt for search rankings, and it is not clear how much any AI company relies on it.

It is cheap to add and harmless, but treat it as a small extra, not a strategy. Clear pages, accurate business details and structured data matter far more.

## Why it matters for a small business

You may be told you ‘need’ an llms.txt file to appear in AI search. You do not, and nobody should charge you much for one. It can be a nice touch on a well-built site, but if the rest of the website is unclear, this file will not fix it.

**Example:** A café's llms.txt lists its name, location, opening hours and links to its menu, private hire and contact pages, all in a few lines of plain text.