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From H1 downward, what is heading hierarchy?

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Headings do more than make text look big and bold. They create the structure of a web page. Headings are applied to text using tags baked into the code of the page.

Heading levels explained

Headings are used to create a hierarchy of content on a page, starting with the page’s main title (H1) and moving down into sections (H2), subsections (H3) and so on. Each level organizes content under the one above it, creating a clear outline for both readers and search engines.

  • H1: The main title of the page (used once).
  • H2: Major sections under the H1.
  • H3: Subsections under an H2.
  • H4-H6: More detailed breakdowns if needed.

Why headings matter

Headings help screen readers and search engines understand the hierarchy and the substance of a page. Screen readers and search engines rely on them to understand what’s important on a page.

Without them, people using screen readers would have a hard time navigating, and search engines wouldn’t know how to rank your content.

Here are a few quick tips for using headings well:

  • Always save your H1 for the page title.
  • Don’t skip heading levels. After an H2, use an H3, not an H4. Skipping levels can hurt accessibility and will be flagged as an issue in Siteimprove.
  • If you’re starting a new major section, feel free to use another H2. Headings of the same level can exist underneath one another. An H2 can be under another H2, an H3 under another H3, etc.
  • Besides the H1, you can use as many headings as you need, just keep the order consistent.

Headings are more than styling

Headings should not be used just for visual effects. They should reflect the outline of your content. If all you want is for your text to stand out stylistically, use custom formats from the Cascade content editor (or WYSIWYG if you learned HTML in the olden days).

To apply a custom format, go to the editor ribbon and click Formats > Custom, then choose the style that fits your content.

Content editor in Cascade showing the custom formats drop-down options.

Styles like display text change the size and shape of your text without affecting any behind-the-scenes code vital for accessibility.

Using headings properly makes your content easy to scan, improves accessibility and gives search engines a clear picture of what your page is about.

The next time you're writing content, be mindful of your headings and their in the user experience.