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LLMs.txt

LLMs.txt is a plain-text format specifically designed for AI language models to quickly understand a website's purpose, structure, and content without parsing HTML or complex markup.

llms.txt
Since 2023
2023
First Released
5/5
GEO Score

Origin & Background

Creator
AI Optimization Community
Year Introduced
2023
Alternate Names
Purpose
Created to provide a standardized, machine-readable format that tells AI systems what a site is about, how it's organized, and how to use it effectively.
Official Specification
View Specification

Key Benefits & Advantages

Benefits Overview

  • Direct communication channel with AI systems
  • Plain text format requires no parsing overhead
  • Explicitly designed for LLM consumption and understanding

Technical Advantages

Zero ambiguity - tells AI exactly what your site does
No HTML noise or visual formatting to confuse models
Improves AI's ability to cite and reference your content accurately
Helps LLMs understand site structure and navigation
Increases likelihood of inclusion in AI-generated answers
Simple format that any AI system can parse instantly
Provides context that improves content categorization
Essential for sites targeting ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity

SEO / GEO / LLMO Relevance

LLMs.txt is the most direct way to communicate with AI systems, providing explicit context that improves how your site is understood, categorized, and cited in AI-generated content.

Increases accuracy of AI-generated descriptions of your site
Improves likelihood of being cited in ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity answers
Helps AI understand your site's purpose without guessing
Provides clear navigation structure for AI crawlers
Essential for sites targeting generative search visibility

Implementation Guide

Syntax Example

llms.txt
Reference
# Geordy - AI Optimization Platform

> https://geordy.ai

## Purpose
Optimize websites for AI-powered search engines and LLMs through automated format generation and AI bot tracking.

## Paths

/features: Platform features including format generation, AI bot tracking, and visibility scoring
/pricing: Pricing plans from Free to Growth with 8-16 AI-optimized formats
/formats: Complete catalog of all 16 AI-optimized file formats
/docs: Documentation on GEO, LLMO, and AI optimization best practices
/api: API endpoints for programmatic access to optimization features

## Topics
generative engine optimization, LLM visibility, AI search optimization, AI bot crawling, structured data for AI, ChatGPT optimization, Claude optimization, Perplexity optimization, GEO, LLMO

## Target AI Systems
ChatGPT (GPTBot), Claude (Claude-Web), Perplexity (PerplexityBot), Google Gemini, Bing AI

Troubleshooting & Best Practices

Comparison to Alternative Formats

Alternative Formats
When to Use LLMs.txt

Use llms.txt for any site that wants to be understood and cited by AI systems. It's especially valuable for SaaS platforms, documentation sites, and content publishers targeting generative search.

Advantages

  • +Explicitly designed for AI consumption
  • +Simple plain text format
  • +No parsing overhead
  • +Direct communication with LLMs

Limitations

  • −Relatively new format with evolving standards
  • −Requires manual updates when site changes
  • −Not yet universally adopted by all AI systems

Popular Use Cases

Site Purpose Declaration

Tell AI systems what your site is about in clear, unambiguous language

Example:
SaaS platforms, documentation sites, content publishers

Content Structure Mapping

Help AI understand your site's organization and navigation

Example:
Multi-section sites, knowledge bases, product catalogs

Topic and Keyword Signals

Provide explicit topic and keyword context for better categorization

Example:
Niche sites, technical documentation, specialized content

Real-World Adoption Examples

Anthropic

Uses llms.txt to describe Claude AI and company mission

Vercel

Implements llms.txt for platform and product description

Linear

Uses llms.txt to explain product features and use cases

Developer Toolkit

Libraries & SDKs

Resources & Citations

LLMs.txt Official Site
LLMs.txt GitHub Repository

Frequently Asked Questions

Automated Generation

Start Using LLMs.txt with Geordy

Geordy automatically generates and maintains LLMs.txt files for your website, ensuring optimal AI visibility without manual work.