Reference · Beginner

HTML heading elements

Use h1 through h6 to name sections and expose a logical content hierarchy instead of selecting headings by default size.

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Review tier: annual

Definition

Heading elements represent headings for their sections. The number indicates the rank in the hierarchy, not a visual style.

Syntax

<h1>City trail guide</h1>
<section>
  <h2>Accessible routes</h2>
  <h3>Lake loop</h3>
</section>

Context and content

Use phrasing content inside a heading. Pages should normally expose one clear top-level heading and nest later headings in order.

Accessibility

Many screen-reader users navigate by heading. A concise, ordered hierarchy makes that navigation predictable. CSS should supply appearance.

Common misuse

Do not skip ranks only to obtain a smaller font. Do not put an entire paragraph inside a heading. Empty headings create misleading navigation stops.