Web Accessibility Training

Headings

Advisory

The information on this page is only applicable if you're editing the University webpages using T4. It presumes that you have already completed the beginners and advanced level of the T4 training (a link for staff only - opens in new window).

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Recommended prior learning

This content will cover headings at levels h2 to h6. So, while it's not compulsory, you'll probably find it helpful to have already covered the training on the h1 heading, as listed here:

If you don't have time to do this, the key points are given in the revision section immediately below.

Revision: key points on the h1 heading

  • The h1 heading is the title displayed at the top of the main body of page text (not the text in block capitals). So the h1 heading on this page is 'Headings' not 'Web Accessibility Training'.

  • Visitors to your page (both human and search engines), use the h1 heading to help determine the main topic or purpose of the page. So when creating page content, you need to be sure that it's always within the scope of the h1 heading.

  • Search engines use h1 heading information as one element of the algorithm that determines the ranking of a page in result listings (also known as search engine optimisation or SEO).

  • It's not compulsory for you to give your page an h1 heading, but if you choose to have one your page can only have one h1 heading.

  • If you choose not to have an h1 heading, T4 will use the name of your page's T4 folder as a 'hidden' h1 heading in the underlying code of the page. So in this situation you should ensure that your T4 folder is appropriately named, because the hidden h1 heading will be:
    • audibly read to those listening to your page using a screen reader
    • communicated via braille to those reading your page using a braille display
    • used by search engines to determine the content of your page.

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What are headings?

Headings are used to signal the start of a topic or sub-topic; they group related content together.

As you've seen, the h1 heading is for your page as a whole. The headings you'll be working with in the main body of your page will then be at 'lower' levels, namely:
  • h2
  • h3
  • h4
  • h5
  • h6
There is no standard-coded heading level beyond h6.

Terminology

Headings h2-h6, then, are effectively sub-headings for the content of your page, but when talking about webpages they're referred to simply as 'headings' with the number of their level.

For example, the heading above, that reads 'Terminology', is an h3 heading. The heading above that, that reads 'What are headings?', is an h2 heading.

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Heading examples

As mentioned, h1 is the heading at the top of your page. The heading above, 'Heading examples' is an h2 heading. The following headings are provided as a visual reference of the hierarchy, but please be aware that on your site headings may be in a different colour or have a slightly different size.

An example of an h3 heading

This would be text about the h3 heading.

An example of an h4 heading

This would be text about the h4 heading.

An example of an h5 heading

This would be text about the h5 heading.

An example of an h6 heading

This would be text about the h6 heading.

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