Headings help people find what they need quickly
Imagine reading a long book without titles, chapters, or page numbers. If you wanted to find a specific scene or piece of information, you’d have to flick through the entire book, scanning every page until you found what you wanted. Frustrating, right?
Headings in a document act like the chapters and section titles in a well-organized book—they let everyone, including those using screen readers, quickly jump to the part they need without wasting time or effort. It’s about making navigation easy and efficient for everyone.
Why headings matter
Headings keep things organized
Headings are like labels on boxes. They show where each topic starts and stops, so readers don’t get lost. Subheadings are like smaller labels that help explain what’s inside each box.
Headings make reading easier
Big blocks of text can be tough to read for anyone, but especially for people who might have difficulty focusing. Using clear headings breaks the content into smaller parts, giving readers a chance to pause and see what’s coming next.
Headings make skimming easy
Let’s say you’re in a rush and just want the main points. Headings let you skim through and find the parts you care about without reading everything.
Headings are shortcuts for screen reader users
Screen reader users can use headings to locate and describe the parts of a document, making it easier to find exactly what they’re looking for and go straight to it.
Steps to improve heading accessibility
- Make headings clear: Write short headings that tell people about the section.
- Don’t fake it: making text bigger and bold doesn’t count! Use styles to make headings.
- Structure your document: Use Heading 1 for main sections, Heading 2 for subsections, and Heading 3 for smaller divisions.
- Maintain consistency: Avoid skipping levels (e.g., don’t jump from Heading 1 to Heading 3).
- Use headings for tables of contents: Headings can automatically create a Table of Contents.