Page structure
Accessible heading structures: Examples and Testing
Published by whatisADA / Grow Wild Agency · Updated
What to build
Use heading elements to express the content's hierarchy, and write headings that describe their sections. Choose heading levels from the document structure rather than the desired font size.
A practical example
A guide has an H1 title, H2 sections for Preparation and Testing, and H3 steps within Testing. A sidebar uses an appropriate separate heading without turning every small label into a heading.
How to check it
- Read the heading outline independently of the paragraphs.
- Inspect the semantic levels and whether they represent the intended parent/child relationships.
- Navigate by heading with a screen reader and check whether someone can locate a specific task efficiently.
What can be missed
A visually large paragraph is not a heading, and an H4 chosen only for its smaller style may misrepresent the hierarchy. A skipped level is a signal to inspect meaning, not a substitute for judgment.
Markup and state contract
This concise markup illustrates names, relationships or state. Custom controls also need the keyboard interaction and state updates described in the checks and primary source; this snippet is not a complete component.
<h1>Accessibility testing plan</h1>
<h2>Preparation</h2>
<h2>Run the tests</h2>
<h3>Keyboard checks</h3>
<h3>Screen-reader checks</h3>Record your test
Use this worksheet to record what you actually checked. Notes stay on this device when you choose Save; they are not sent to us. Avoid personal or confidential information on shared devices.
These are your observations, not automated results or a conformance certificate. A complete evaluation needs appropriate scope, supported technologies, all applicable criteria and relevant page states.
Primary sources and scope
This is independent implementation guidance with original examples. The linked standard contains the full definitions, exceptions and conformance requirements. A criterion or checklist alone does not establish legal applicability or whole-site conformance.