What is LLMS.txt and does it replace Robots.txt and SiteMap.xml?

Currently, users can add llms.txt files to their WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal websites to ensure future support by AI-powered search engines. But let’s break it all down step by step.

Why do you need an LLMS.txt file?

LLMS.txt is a proposed new standard developed specifically for AI, which allows large language models (LLMs) to access a publisher’s content in a format optimized for AI. The main content is presented to LLMs without ads or other page elements designed for human users.

The proposed standard uses page markup with the filename extension *.md — duplicates of existing pages that contain only the main content. John Mueller from Google has hinted at the unreliability of this proposed standard, as nothing prevents unscrupulous SEO specialists from adding anything they want to LLMs.txt web pages.

How is LLMS.txt different from robots.txt and sitemap.xml?

Unlike robots.txt, which controls search engine crawling, or sitemap.xml, which lists all pages, llms.txt is designed to help AI assistants quickly understand and use the most relevant information on a website. It’s a Markdown file, usually located in the site’s root directory, that directs AI tools to valuable content — potentially improving the site’s visibility in AI-generated responses.

How does it work?

Curated list: provides an organized, prioritized list of key URLs, often with titles and descriptions, to assist AI crawlers.

Complements other standards: works alongside existing standards such as robots.txt and sitemaps, offering AI a different type of guide rather than access control or page listing.

Why might you need it?

Boosts AI visibility: helps ensure that your most important content is included in AI-generated answers, potentially attracting more traffic.

Useful for specific content: especially beneficial for sites with extensive documentation, FAQs, product guides, and educational articles.

Early adoption advantage: as AI tools become increasingly integrated with web browsing, having an llms.txt file can give your site an edge.

Now let’s explore which CMS platforms already have ready-made free or paid solutions that can be installed on your site without involving web developers — in other words, how to set up and configure the llms.txt file yourself.

The llms.txt file is already supported in WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla

Back in the summer, Yoast SEO added support for llms.txt in both Free and Pro versions of its plugin for WordPress. Other CMS platforms are keeping up with the trend and gradually adding this feature as well. For example, Joomla offers JSitemap Pro (a comprehensive solution – component, module, and plugin) that introduced LLMS.txt generation in its paid PRO version. Meanwhile, Drupal already has the llms_txt module. Unfortunately, other platforms have not yet caught up with this rapid AI-driven development in the SEO industry. Therefore, let’s take a look at these plugins and modules for creating LLMS.txt — because CMS WordPress, CMS Joomla, and CMS Drupal are currently the leading platforms for website development in Ukraine and among the most popular engines used by Ukrainian businesses online.

Unfortunately, content management systems still present on the Ukrainian market, such as MODx and OpenCart, have not yet developed solutions for their users. So, if you’re using one of these CMS platforms, you’ll need to contact web developers for assistance!