Content publishing
Audit a Page's Heading Outline
Published by whatisADA / Grow Wild Agency · Updated
Purpose and preparation
Compare the visible sections of a page with its semantic heading structure. Look for useful navigation and meaningful relationships instead of treating heading numbers as a styling system. Record template-generated headings as well as editor content.
A practical example
An article has a clear title but its sidebar labels are headings while the actual section titles are plain bold paragraphs.
How to check it
- List the intended sections and inspect the rendered heading outline. Identify missing section headings, misleading headings and relationships that are not represented clearly.
- Apply semantic headings to the actual section labels and choose levels that reflect their hierarchy. Adjust styles separately from the structure.
- Navigate the page by headings with assistive technology. Confirm that each heading describes the content that follows and that repeated template content is understandable.
What can be missed
An automated skipped-level warning is a prompt for review, not the entire assessment. The main question is whether the structure and relationships are conveyed accurately.
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.