Heading Structure Accessibility Checker

WCAG 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships, Level A) requires that structural relationships — including headings — are programmatically determinable. This means using proper <h1> through <h6> elements, not just bold or large text styled to look like headings. WCAG 2.4.6 (Headings and Labels, Level AA) requires that headings describe the topic or purpose of the content they introduce. Together, these criteria ensure that the page has a logical outline that assistive technology users can navigate. Screen reader users rely heavily on headings — studies show that 67.5% of screen reader users navigate by headings as their primary method of finding content on a page (WebAIM Screen Reader User Survey). Skipped heading levels, missing H1 tags, and headings used purely for visual styling all break this navigation pattern.

Headings create a navigable outline of your page content:

• Screen reader navigation: Users press the "H" key to jump between headings, or use a headings list to scan the page structure. If headings are missing or out of order, this is like a book with no table of contents
• Cognitive accessibility: Clear headings help all users understand page structure and find relevant sections quickly — particularly important for users with attention or reading difficulties
• SEO alignment: Search engines use heading structure to understand content hierarchy. Proper heading structure simultaneously improves accessibility and search rankings
• The correct hierarchy: Each page should have exactly one <h1> (the page title), followed by <h2> sections, <h3> subsections within those, and so on. Never skip levels (e.g., jumping from <h2> to <h4>)

A well-structured page with proper headings is easier to navigate for everyone — disabled or not.

Frequent heading structure problems:

• Styled text instead of headings: <p class="title"><strong>Our Services</strong></p> looks like a heading but is not one. Fix: <h2>Our Services</h2>
• Skipped levels: Going from <h2> directly to <h4>. Fix: use <h3> for the intermediate level, or restructure to eliminate the gap
• Multiple H1 tags: <h1>Logo</h1>...<h1>Page Title</h1>. Fix: use one <h1> for the page title, use an image or styled text for the logo
• Headings for styling only: <h3>Note: Prices may vary</h3> when it is just bold text, not a section heading. Fix: use <p><strong>Note: Prices may vary</strong></p>
• Empty headings: <h2></h2> or headings containing only images without alt text. Screen readers announce "heading level 2, blank" — confusing and useless

CompliScan scans your page's heading hierarchy and detects: pages without an <h1> element, multiple <h1> elements, skipped heading levels, empty headings, and headings that contain only non-text content without accessible names. The scanner builds a complete heading outline for each page and flags structural violations. AI-generated suggestions recommend the correct heading level for each element and identify text that should be a heading but is styled with CSS instead. For meeting the ADA Title II deadline of April 24, 2026 and European Accessibility Act requirements, heading structure is a high-impact fix. Automated tools reliably detect heading structure issues — this is one area where CompliScan catches close to 100% of violations. Run a free scan to see your heading outline and identify misstructured content across your site.