Heading structure
Also known as: Heading hierarchy
Heading structure is the outline of a page made from <h1> to <h6> tags. Screen-reader users rely on it to skim and jump around, just like a table of contents.
In plain terms
One <h1> for the page title, <h2>s for main sections, <h3>s nested under them — in order, without skipping levels. Screen-reader users pull up a list of headings to navigate, so a page with no real headings (or headings used just to make text big) is very hard to move through.
Why it matters
Proper headings are one of the most-used screen-reader features and a core part of WCAG 1.3.1. They also give search engines a clear map of your content.
Don't jump from <h2> straight to <h4> because it looks nicer — fix it with CSS and keep the heading levels in order.
Related terms
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