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headings

GUIDELINES: 2.4.6, 2.4.10

Overview

Headings are used to organize a page visually and structurally. The order and ranking of headings should be acknowledged, as they play a role in the importance of content.

Who is impacted

Screen reader users who navigate by headings and users who scan pages visually for structure.

How to test

Use a browser extension to outline heading levels and verify they follow a logical hierarchy without skipping levels.

Resources

Visit W3C Understanding Headings and Labels and WebAIM Semantic Structure for detailed guidance.

Heading Hierarchy

Headings should follow a logical, hierarchical structure from h1 to h6. Each page should have one h1 that describes the main topic. Subsequent sections use h2, subsections use h3, and so on. Never skip heading levels (e.g., going from h2 to h4) as this confuses screen reader users who navigate by heading level.

Screen reader users often navigate pages by jumping between headings to understand the page structure and find relevant content quickly. A well-structured heading hierarchy acts as a table of contents for the page.

Descriptive Headings

Headings should be descriptive and meaningful, clearly indicating the content that follows. Avoid vague headings like "More Information" or "Click Here." Instead, use specific headings that convey the topic of each section. This benefits all users but is especially important for screen reader users who may navigate a page by headings alone.