What Is llms.txt?
llms.txt is a proposed plain-text file at a site’s root that points large language models at the pages worth reading, in a concise, link-first format. It is a curation hint — "here is the map of this site for a model" — not an access-control or capability standard. It helps an answer engine find the canonical explanation of a topic; it does not tell an agent what the organisation can do or who authorised an action.
Where it fits
llms.txt sits on the discoverability layer beside robots.txt and sitemaps: it shapes what a model reads. The accountability layer — who an organisation is, what it can do, who stands behind an action — is a different set of surfaces entirely. Serving llms.txt well is necessary for being understood and insufficient for being acted upon.
Related standards
Questions
Is llms.txt an official standard?
It is a community proposal with growing adoption, not a ratified standard. It is thin by design and complements, rather than replaces, sitemaps and structured data.
Does llms.txt help ranking?
It helps a model find your canonical pages, which supports citation in answers. It is one input among many, not a ranking lever on its own.
Where this lives in the estate
FlashyOS — the estate’s own llms.txt, served from the register
Keep reading
By Michael Gord · published 2026-10-04 · part of the Agentic Encyclopedia. Dates are the day of publication; events are cited at their own dates.