Headings & Logical Hierarchy-2

 

What Are Headings?

 

Headings are used to provide organization and structure to content. 

Heading Levels

Correct heading sequence is as follows, beginning with H1, H2, then onto H3...

  1. H1 <h1> (There is only one Heading Level 1 in each document. This is reserved for the title of the document.) 
  2. H2 <h2>
  3. H3 <h3>
  4. H4 <h4>
  5. ...and so on.  It should be noted, however, that more than five levels can become too cumbersome for a screen-reader

Why Are Headings Important?

  • Using headings is one of the best ways to enhance the accessibility of your document, as it empowers your user to quickly navigate your content via assistive technologies.
  • Headings help your audience understand the relationship between the subtopics, using the default heading style size as a cue.
  • Headings help summarize & restate

If descriptive headings are used, users can quickly identify major topics, subtopics, and understand how they are related. 

Sequencing Heading Styles

One of the concepts that applies to heading styles, is logical hierarchy.

Logical Hierarchy means there is an organized system for assigning headings, based on the numerical value indicated in the heading name.

The main principle of the concept is to start at Heading 1 and progress down without skipping any levels as you go through the document.

Structuring Headings

Think of structuring headings like writing an outline. 

  • Heading 1 <h1> = Title of the Document 
    • Heading 2 <h2>= Subtopic of Heading 1
      • Heading 3 <h3> = Subtopic of Heading 2
        • Heading 4 <h4> = Subtopic of Heading 3 

And so forth. 

Headings 1-6 organized in an outline structure.

 

Creating an Outline Using Headings      

Heading levels can be used more than once! 

  • Heading 1 (Title) = Exotic Birds 
    • Heading 2 (Subtopic 1) = Parrots 
      • Heading 3 (Subtopics under Parrots) = Behavior
      • Heading 3 (Subtopics under Parrots) = Diet
      •  Heading 3 (Subtopics under Parrots) = Intelligence and learning
        • Heading 4 (Subtopics on Further Details) = Sound imitation and speech
        • Heading 4 (Subtopics on Further Details) = Cooperation
      •  Heading 3 (Subtopics under Parrots) = Breeding
    • Heading 2 (Subtopic 2)  = Macaws
      • Heading 3 (Subtopics under Macaws) = Conservation Status
      • Heading 3 (Subtopics under Macaws) = Hybrids

Heading levels outline

 

In the Tags Panel

 

Highlight heading tags in the Tag Panel

 

Heading tags provide organization for the PDF. The image on the left shows heading tags in the Tags Panel that are structured correctly, beginning with <H1>, as this designates the title of the document.  

  • <H1> = Heading 1. This is the title of your document. There should only be one <H1> for the
    entire document.
  • <H2> = Heading 2. This is the highest level sub‐headings in a document.
  • <H3> = Heading 3. This is a third level heading.
  • <H4> = Heading 4. This is a fourth level heading.

 


Note:

Like in an Outline, you should never skip heading levels.

For example, an incorrect heading structure would be:

Heading 1 > Heading 3 > Heading 2 > Heading 4.