TermAI search
What is llms.txt?
Last checked 4 November 2026 · Checked by Jerrell Niu
Definition
llms.txt is a plain Markdown file on your website that gives AI tools a short summary of your business and links to your most useful pages. Jeremy Howard proposed it on 3 September 2024. It is a proposal rather than an agreed standard, so adding one does not guarantee an AI tool will read it.
Where does the file go?
The file sits at the root of your website, at yourbusiness.com.au/llms.txt. The proposal also allows a file at a subpath, which then covers the pages under that path.
What goes in it?
The file is written in Markdown, in a set order. The proposal lists five parts.
- A heading with the name of the business or site. This is the only part the proposal requires.
- A short summary in a quote block.
- Optional paragraphs or lists with more detail, without headings.
- Sections with a second-level heading, each listing links to pages, with a short note after each link.
- An optional section called Optional, for links an AI tool can skip when it needs less detail.
Example
Our own file is at ilovedigital.com.au/llms.txt. The site builds it automatically from its content, so every new service page, case study and article is listed without a manual edit. Here is the start of the file, shortened.
# I Love Digital
> A digital agency on the Gold Coast, Queensland, based in Robina.
Services
Why it matters for a small business
An llms.txt file is a cheap way to give AI tools a clean summary of what you do, where you work and which pages matter. It takes little time to add, but it works alongside the basics rather than replacing them: pages Google can index, clear answers on the page, and structured data that names your business.
Next step
Our guide to getting recommended by ChatGPT covers what is documented about how AI tools choose sources. Our AI search service sets up llms.txt and the rest of the AI readiness work.