LLMS.txt Validator & Generator
What is llms.txt?
- Place at domain.com/llms.txt
- Uses User-agent and Allow/Disallow directives
- One directive per line
Generate Your llms.txt
Create a markdown-based llms.txt file by crawling your website to extract metadata and content structure.
Understanding LLMS.txt: The Complete Guide to Managing AI Bot Access to Your Website
Introduction to LLMS.txt
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, artificial intelligence has become an integral part of how we interact with information online. AI language models like ChatGPT, Claude, and others are constantly crawling the web to learn and provide better responses to users. But what if you want to control how these AI systems interact with your website? Enter LLMS.txt – a simple yet powerful tool that gives website owners control over AI bot access to their content.
What is LLMS?
LLMS stands for Large Language Model Systems. The LLMS.txt file is a standard similar to robots.txt but specifically designed for AI language model crawlers.
What is LLMS.txt and Why Does It Matter?
LLMS.txt is a text file that website owners can place at the root of their domain to provide instructions to AI crawlers about which parts of their website can be accessed and used for training AI models. Just as robots.txt has been the standard for traditional web crawlers for decades, LLMS.txt is emerging as the standard for AI language model crawlers.
In essence, LLMS.txt serves as a communication bridge between your website and AI systems, allowing you to:
- Control which parts of your site AI models can access
- Protect sensitive or private content from being used in AI training
- Specify which AI systems can access your content
- Provide structured information about your site’s content
As AI continues to shape how we find and consume information online, having control over how your content is used becomes increasingly important. LLMS.txt matters because it empowers website owners to make informed decisions about AI access while still benefiting from the visibility that AI systems can provide.
How LLMS.txt Works
LLMS.txt operates on a simple principle: when an AI crawler visits your website, it first checks for the presence of an LLMS.txt file at the root directory (e.g., https://example.com/llms.txt). The file contains directives that tell the AI crawler which parts of your site it can access and which parts it should avoid.
AI Bot Visits Website
An AI crawler (like GPTBot from OpenAI) visits your domain.
Checks for LLMS.txt
The bot looks for an LLMS.txt file at your domain root.
Reads Instructions
The bot reads and interprets the directives in the file.
Follows Access Rules
The bot respects the allow/disallow rules while crawling.
It’s important to note that compliance with LLMS.txt is voluntary on the part of AI companies. However, major AI providers like OpenAI (ChatGPT), Anthropic (Claude), and others have committed to respecting these directives as part of their responsible AI development practices.
Benefits of Implementing LLMS.txt
Privacy Protection
Keep sensitive information from being used to train AI models, protecting user data and confidential content.
Content Control
Decide exactly which parts of your website can be accessed by AI systems, maintaining control over your intellectual property.
Improved Representation
Guide AI systems to the most accurate and up-to-date content on your site, ensuring better representation in AI responses.
Structured Information
Provide AI systems with structured data about your site, helping them better understand your content organization and purpose.
LLMS.txt Format and Syntax
The LLMS.txt file follows a simple, human-readable format that’s easy to create and maintain. It consists of two main components: User-agent directives and Allow/Disallow rules.
User-agent: [AI Bot Name]
Allow: [path]
Disallow: [path]
User-agent: [Another AI Bot Name]
Allow: [path]
Disallow: [path]Key Components:
| Component | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| User-agent | Specifies which AI bot the rules apply to | User-agent: GPTBot |
| Allow | Specifies paths that the bot is allowed to access | Allow: /blog/ |
| Disallow | Specifies paths that the bot is not allowed to access | Disallow: /private/ |
| Comments | Lines starting with # are treated as comments | # This is a comment |
Pro Tip
The most specific rule takes precedence. For example, if you have Disallow: / and Allow: /blog/, the AI bot will be allowed to access the blog directory but not other parts of your site.
Common AI Bot User-Agents:
- GPTBot – OpenAI’s crawler for ChatGPT
- ClaudeBot – Anthropic’s crawler for Claude
- GoogleBot – Google’s crawler (also used for Bard/Gemini)
- CCBot – Common Crawl bot used by many AI systems
- Bingbot – Microsoft’s crawler (used for Bing AI)
Step-by-Step Implementation Guide
Implementing LLMS.txt on your website is straightforward. Follow these steps to get started:
Create the LLMS.txt File
Using a text editor, create a new file named llms.txt. This file should be plain text with no formatting.
Add User-Agent Directives
For each AI bot you want to control, add a User-agent: line followed by the bot’s name.
User-agent: GPTBot
User-agent: ClaudeBotDefine Access Rules
For each user-agent, add Allow: and Disallow: directives to specify which parts of your site the bot can and cannot access.
User-agent: GPTBot
Allow: /blog/
Allow: /public/
Disallow: /private/
Disallow: /admin/
User-agent: ClaudeBot
Allow: /blog/
Disallow: /Add Optional Metadata
You can include additional information about your site using comments or structured data.
# LLMS.txt for example.com
# Last updated: June 15, 2023
# Site metadata
# Title: Example Website
# Description: A website about examples
# Owner: Example CompanyUpload to Your Website
Upload the LLMS.txt file to the root directory of your website. It should be accessible at https://yourdomain.com/llms.txt.
Verify Implementation
Test your LLMS.txt file by accessing it directly in a web browser to ensure it’s properly uploaded and formatted.
Important Note
Make sure your LLMS.txt file is accessible without requiring authentication. If the file is behind a login wall, AI crawlers won’t be able to access it.
Real-World Examples
Here are some examples of LLMS.txt implementations for different types of websites:
Blog Website Example
# LLMS.txt for myblog.com
# Last updated: June 15, 2023
User-agent: GPTBot
Allow: /blog/
Allow: /articles/
Allow: /public/
Disallow: /drafts/
Disallow: /members-only/
Disallow: /comments/
User-agent: ClaudeBot
Allow: /blog/
Allow: /articles/
Disallow: /
This example allows AI bots to access public blog posts and articles but prevents them from accessing draft content, member-only content, and user comments.
E-commerce Website Example
# LLMS.txt for myshop.com
# Last updated: June 15, 2023
User-agent: GPTBot
Allow: /products/
Allow: /categories/
Allow: /blog/
Disallow: /cart/
Disallow: /checkout/
Disallow: /account/
Disallow: /orders/
Disallow: /admin/
User-agent: ClaudeBot
Allow: /products/
Allow: /categories/
Disallow: /
This example allows AI bots to access product listings and categories but prevents them from accessing cart, checkout, account, and order information.
Corporate Website Example
# LLMS.txt for mycorporation.com
# Last updated: June 15, 2023
User-agent: GPTBot
Allow: /about/
Allow: /products/
Allow: /services/
Allow: /press/
Allow: /blog/
Disallow: /internal/
Disallow: /investors/
Disallow: /employees/
Disallow: /admin/
User-agent: ClaudeBot
Allow: /about/
Allow: /products/
Allow: /services/
Allow: /press/
Disallow: /
This example allows AI bots to access public company information, products, services, press releases, and blog posts but prevents them from accessing internal, investor, and employee information.
Personal Website Example
# LLMS.txt for mypersonalsite.com
# Last updated: June 15, 2023
User-agent: GPTBot
Allow: /portfolio/
Allow: /blog/
Allow: /projects/
Disallow: /personal/
Disallow: /journal/
Disallow: /photos/family/
User-agent: ClaudeBot
Disallow: /
This example allows GPTBot to access portfolio, blog, and project information but prevents it from accessing personal journal entries and family photos. It completely blocks ClaudeBot from accessing any content.
LLMS.txt vs. Robots.txt
While LLMS.txt and robots.txt serve similar purposes, they have key differences that make them complementary rather than redundant:
| Feature | LLMS.txt | Robots.txt |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Control AI language model access for training and responses | Control search engine crawler access for indexing |
| Target Audience | AI language model crawlers (GPTBot, ClaudeBot, etc.) | Search engine crawlers (Googlebot, Bingbot, etc.) |
| Content Usage | Controls what content can be used to train AI models | Controls what content appears in search results |
| Format | Similar to robots.txt with User-agent and Allow/Disallow directives | User-agent and Allow/Disallow directives |
| Location | Root directory: /llms.txt | Root directory: /robots.txt |
| Standard Status | Emerging standard, voluntary compliance | Well-established standard, widely respected |
Best Practice
It’s recommended to implement both LLMS.txt and robots.txt files on your website. While they serve different purposes, they work together to give you comprehensive control over how different types of bots interact with your content.
Best Practices and Tips
To get the most out of your LLMS.txt implementation, consider these best practices:
Be Specific with Paths
Use specific paths rather than broad rules to ensure precise control over what content AI bots can access.
Regularly Update Your File
Review and update your LLMS.txt file regularly, especially when adding new sections to your website or when new AI crawlers emerge.
Include Comments
Add comments to your LLMS.txt file to document your decisions and make it easier to maintain in the future.
Test Your Configuration
Verify that your LLMS.txt file is working as expected by checking if it’s accessible at your domain root.
Consider User Privacy
Always prioritize user privacy by blocking AI access to user-generated content, personal information, and sensitive data.
The Future of LLMS.txt
As AI continues to evolve, so too will the standards and practices around AI web crawling. Here’s what we might expect in the future:
Standardization
As more AI companies adopt LLMS.txt, we’ll likely see formal standardization of the format and protocols, similar to how robots.txt evolved.
Enhanced Directives
Future versions might include more sophisticated directives, such as content categorization, age restrictions, or content licensing information.
Integration with Metadata
LLMS.txt might evolve to work with other metadata standards like Schema.org to provide more context about content.
Regulatory Requirements
As AI regulation develops, there might be legal requirements for AI companies to respect LLMS.txt directives.
Conclusion
LLMS.txt represents an important step in giving website owners control over how their content is used by AI systems. By implementing this simple text file, you can help ensure that your content is used appropriately while still benefiting from the visibility and utility that AI systems provide.
As the AI landscape continues to evolve, taking proactive steps to manage AI access to your content will become increasingly important. LLMS.txt provides a straightforward, accessible way to do just that.
Ready to Implement LLMS.txt?
Start by creating your LLMS.txt file today and take control of how AI systems interact with your website content.
FAQs
What is llms.txt?
llms.txt is a special text file you place on your website to tell AI bots (like GPTBot, ClaudeBot, etc.) what content they’re allowed or not allowed to use for training. It’s similar to robots.txt, but specifically meant for Large Language Models (LLMs).
Why do I need a llms.txt file?
If you want more control over how AI models use your website’s content, this file helps. You can block or allow specific bots, or even entire sections of your site, from being accessed for AI training.
How is llms.txt different from robots.txt?
While robots.txt tells search engines like Google what they can index, llms.txt is aimed at AI crawlers. It’s a way to manage how your content is used for machine learning, not just search rankings.
What can I include in a llms.txt file?
You can list:
Which AI bots you allow or block (e.g., GPTBot, ClaudeBot)
Which parts of your site to include or exclude
Optional metadata like site title, page links, and more (especially in markdown format)
Do all AI bots follow llms.txt?
No. It’s a voluntary standard. Well-known companies like OpenAI and Anthropic may respect it, but unknown bots or bad actors might ignore it. Still, having it shows your preferences clearly.
How do I generate a llms.txt file?
You can use our generator tool that scans your website, grabs titles, page links, and basic site info, and creates a ready-to-use markdown file. You can also manually choose which bots to block and what paths to hide.
Where do I place the llms.txt file?
Upload it to the root of your website — for example:https://yourwebsite.com/llms.txt
This is where AI bots will look for it.
Can I see if my llms.txt file is working?
Yes! You can use a validator tool to check if your file is readable, correctly formatted, and being served without errors (like 404). It’ll also point out issues and give suggestions.
What happens if I don’t have a llms.txt file?
If you don’t have one, it’s like leaving your door unlocked — AI crawlers might assume they’re allowed to use your content. Adding a llms.txt gives you a voice in how your site is treated.
Is it safe to let AI bots read my site?
It depends. If your content is public and you’re okay with it helping train AI, it’s fine. But if you have private, personal, or sensitive info, it’s better to block access through llms.txt.
