AGENTS.md — definition
AGENTS.md is a standardized root-level Markdown file used in web repositories and software projects to provide explicit structural context, operational guidelines, and architectural rules to AI coding and search agents.
Expanded Explanation
Similar to `ROBOTS.TXT` for search engines or `README.MD` for human developers, `AGENTS.md` acts as an authoritative instruction manual tailored for AI agents navigating codebases and web properties.
Analogy & Mental Model
AGENTS.md is like leaving a clear house manual and floor plan for a house sitter so they know where everything is and how the appliances operate.
Why It Matters & Where It's Used
Adopting AGENTS.md ensures autonomous AI developer tools and code agents understand your technical architecture without making incorrect assumptions.
Concrete Real-World Application
Adding AGENTS.md to a GitHub repository to instruct AI coding agents on project conventions, test commands, and architectural constraints.
AGENTS.md vs llms.txt
`llms.txt` provides structured web content for search RAG engines, whereas `AGENTS.md` provides operational codebase rules for AI developer agents.
How It Works & Key Components
Parsed automatically by agentic AI coding tools upon workspace initialization.
1Architectural Declaration
Listing core directory structures, entry points, and technology stacks.
2Operational Guidelines
Defining build commands, testing requirements, and coding conventions.
3Constraints & Rules
Explicitly forbidding anti-patterns, unauthorized libraries, or dangerous commands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:Where should AGENTS.md be located?
AGENTS.md should be placed at the root directory of your project or website repository.
Get cited across ChatGPT, Perplexity & Gemini with citedby
Optimize your brand’s AI visibility score, track Share of Model across buyer prompts, and turn zero-click search into your highest-converting pipeline source.
Explore citedby Platform