Headings create a logical outline of a page’s content — used by search engines to understand topic structure, and by screen readers to let visually impaired users navigate content efficiently.
Best practice
- One H1 per page, describing the page’s main topic
- Headings nested in order (H2 under H1, H3 under H2) rather than skipped levels, which breaks the logical outline
- Headings should reflect actual content structure, not be chosen purely for font size/styling — use CSS for visual sizing instead
Common mistakes
Using multiple H1s per page, or choosing heading levels based on how they look rather than the document’s actual structure, are the two most common structural mistakes that undermine both SEO and accessibility simultaneously.
FAQ
Is it ever acceptable to have multiple H1s on one page?
Modern HTML5 sectioning technically allows it, but a single, clear H1 remains the safer, more broadly compatible best practice for both SEO tools and accessibility technology.