About headings

Headings must be logically ordered starting with a single <h1>. On this page, the title is the <h1>.

How headings are used

There are common 3 ways screenreaders interact with headings.

Browse mode

Screenreaders can simply read the entire page item by item.

Shortcuts / quick keys

Screenreaders can skip from heading to heading

Rotor / list

Screenreaders can gather all headings into a single list to choose from.

Headings must be in logical order

Starting with a singular unique <h1>, the outline of the page must be apparent from just the headings.

Use <h2> as a heading for major sections.

Subsections should be an <h3>.

(It should be rare that <h4> or <h5> will be used.)

Why headings matter

Headings give the page structure and meaning to both the screen reader user and for search engines like Google.