2.4.10 Section Headings

Headings are one of the primary navigation tools for screen reader users. A well-structured heading hierarchy allows users to quickly scan the page structure and jump to the section they need.

At Level AAA, all sections of content should be organised with appropriate headings. This goes beyond merely having headings: it means consistently using them to divide content into navigable sections.

Use heading levels logically: h1 for the page title, h2 for major sections, h3 for subsections, and so on. Do not skip levels.

Every major section of content should have a heading. Long passages of text without headings are difficult to navigate.

Use the accessibility tree in browser DevTools to review your heading structure.

• Long page with a single h1 and no further headings
• Headings that skip levels (jumping from h2 to h5 for visual reasons)
• Sections of content with no headings that could otherwise be navigated to directly