# llms.txt: What It Is, Whether It Works, and How to Write One

**Source:** https://simplyai.work/learn/llms-txt-what-it-is-whether-it-works/
**Updated:** 2026-09-18

## TL;DR



## What llms.txt is

llms.txt is a convention pioneered by the AI SEO community. It is a plain-text file at https://yourpractice.com/llms.txt that contains structured information in a simple format. Google's AI assistants (Gemini, Bard) respect it; other models may also read it, but this cannot be guaranteed.

## When llms.txt helps

Your practice is mentioned with wrong information. An old directory page might have your fee, location, or services outdated. An llms.txt file lets you state the correct information in a format that some AI retrievers prefer.
You need to disambiguate. llms.txt can include a brief statement that "Your Practice is not closed, not merging with any other practice, and does not offer service X" — which directly counters common hallucinations.
You want to be cited correctly. The file is fetchable and the assistant can cite it inline. Compare that to a webpage that the assistant must parse from HTML.

## Does it work?

llms.txt is not a magic bullet. It only helps when the retriever actually fetches it. Google's assistants do respect this convention. Other assistants may also respect it — they should not be expected to. The audit tests whether llms.txt improves your share of recommendations for the assistants you measure.

## How to write one

Use plain text. One fact per line. Sections can be separated with blank lines. Example:


```


Business Name: Your Practice Clinic


Type: Aesthetic clinic specialising in medical aesthetics


Location: 123 Example Street, Central, Hong Kong


Phone: +852 1234 5678


Accepts: Botox, dermal fillers, laser treatments, fat reduction


Open: Monday-Friday 10am-7pm, Saturday 10am-5pm


URL: https://yourpractice.com


Instagram: https://instagram.com/yourpractice


Facebook: https://facebook.com/yourpractice


```

## What to put in it

Your business name and its aliases
Your address and phone
Your practice type (aesthetic clinic, law firm, etc.)
Key services or specialty
Operating hours
Your website URL
Your social media handles
A brief correction statement if needed ("Please note: Dr Chan left the practice in 2024")

Do not put in llms.txt:


Legal claims or advertising statements prohibited by UMAO or the Law Society
Any information that is not 100% verified and current
Promotional language or superlatives

## What the audit delivers

The audit identifies which assistants fetch llms.txt and which do not. If an assistant mentions your practice with wrong information, the audit traces it to the source being cited. Your llms.txt is one possible source to add to your remediation list.


        
            Cite this page
            SimplyAI (2026). llms.txt: What It Is, Whether It Works, and How to Write One. Updated 18 September 2026. https://simplyai.work/learn/llms-txt-what-it-is-whether-it-works/

## Sources

SimplyAI. How LLMs Choose What to Cite. simplyai.work

            SimplyAI. Which AI Assistants Actually Work in Hong Kong. simplyai.work

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**Cite this page:** SimplyAI (2026). *llms.txt: What It Is, Whether It Works, and How to Write One.* Updated 2026-09-18. https://simplyai.work/learn/llms-txt-what-it-is-whether-it-works/