When to use this check
Read the outline without the paragraphs. If its subject and sequence are unclear, fix the wording and hierarchy. The H1 count alone is not evidence of a search penalty.
Know what you are checking.
Headings organise a document. H1 identifies its main content and lower ranks structure the sections. HTML determines their meaning; size and bold styling alone do not.
A practical example
H1: Coffee machine repair
H2: Diagnostic process
H3: What to bring
H2: Approving the repair cost
H2: Collection and contactA common mistake
Turning every bold phrase into H2 makes the outline worse. Review skipped levels in context instead of rewriting content mechanically.
Understand the result. Make the right change.
How to check your heading hierarchy
A heading list should explain the subject and sequence of questions. “More”, “Our offer” and “Further information” often conceal what their sections actually contain.
- Let the main heading identify this specific page.
- Use H2 for its main questions and H3 for their subtopics.
- Check each heading against the content that follows it.
Why heading rank is different from font size
A large promotional slogan is not necessarily a document heading. A small heading may identify an important subsection; adjust its appearance without changing its HTML meaning.
- Do not choose H4 simply because its default size looks right.
- Keep an emphasised sentence as a paragraph when it introduces no section.
- Check the mobile layout after changing the markup.
How to fix headings in cards and templates
A product card may sit below H2 on a category page but inside a deeper section elsewhere. A fixed heading rank in the component can produce an incoherent outline.
- Inspect card titles, navigation, the footer and the logo.
- Choose a reusable component’s rank according to its parent section.
- Do not remove a useful heading merely to satisfy an audit count.
How to test navigation by headings
A coherent outline also helps people navigate with a screen reader. Check the actual DOM order rather than relying on the visual arrangement of columns.
- Move through headings from the start to the end of the main content.
- Check whether a hidden mobile menu introduces unnecessary duplicates.
- After a template change, review an article, service and category page.
Primary reference: www.w3.org ↗
Frequently asked questions
Why does an obvious visual heading not appear in the audit?
The text may be a div, an image, or a pseudo-element. Inspect HTML and the accessibility tree. If it names a section, use an appropriate heading and style it with CSS. Adding a hidden H1 just for points creates no useful outline. Readers and assistive technology need the same understandable structure.
When the task is complete
Reading the heading outline alone explains the page. Logos, banners, and repeated navigation labels do not obscure the main heading for the specific content.