On-Page SEO
Heading Hierarchy
Heading hierarchy is the parent-and-subsection relationship expressed by the ranks of semantic headings.
What it means
An H2 normally starts a subsection beneath the main H1 context, and an H3 subdivides the preceding H2 section. Returning to an equal or higher rank closes the deeper subsection in the reader's mental outline.
Why it matters
A meaningful hierarchy lets users understand which details belong to which topic and helps screen-reader users navigate by heading. Rank gaps can be confusing when they imply missing structural levels.
Example
Under the H2 `Payment methods`, H3 headings label `Card`, `Bank transfer` and `Cash`. A later H2 `Refunds` closes the payment-method subsections and starts a peer section.
Common mistakes
Do not choose H4 because it looks smaller, insert ranks based on component nesting alone or assume every reusable sidebar must inherit the article's current rank. Keep repeated regions consistent.
How AYSA handles this
Signals reviewed
heading ranks, DOM order, component boundaries, region labels, template reuse
Problem AYSA can identify
AYSA can find rank jumps and component headings whose level contradicts their conceptual parent.
Recommendation prepared
The proposal changes ranks at the shared component or page level with documented hierarchy evidence.
Approval preview
The user reviews outline changes and any shared-template impact.
Execution
AYSA can adjust supported heading components after approval.
Verification
AYSA checks rendered order and representative page outlines across affected templates.
Limits
AYSA cannot choose a parent relationship when the content model itself is undefined.
Sources and further reading
- W3C WAI — Headings and page structure — Accessibility guidance
- WHATWG HTML Standard — Headings and sections — Web standard
- W3C WAI — Writing for web accessibility — Accessibility guidance
Written by Marius Dosinescu. Reviewed by AYSA SEO Editorial Team · 2026-07-28 00:00:00.
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
Is every skipped heading level automatically an HTML error?
No, but skipping ranks while opening subsections can confuse the intended hierarchy and should generally be avoided.
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