Headings are an essential part of HTML, helping to organize and structure content on a webpage.
HTML provides six levels of headings, ranging from <h1> (the largest and most important) to <h6> (the smallest and least important).
In this tutorial, you’ll learn:
- The syntax for headings.
- How to use different heading levels.
- Examples of styling headings using CSS.
- Accessibility considerations for headings.
1. Syntax for HTML Headings
HTML headings use the <h1> to <h6> tags. The general syntax is:
<h1>This is a Heading 1</h1> <h2>This is a Heading 2</h2> <h3>This is a Heading 3</h3> <h4>This is a Heading 4</h4> <h5>This is a Heading 5</h5> <h6>This is a Heading 6</h6>
2. Using Different Heading Levels
Example 1: Headings in a Blog Post
<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <title>Blog Post Example</title> </head> <body> <h1>My Blog Title</h1> <h2>Introduction</h2> <p>Welcome to my blog. This section introduces the topic.</p> <h2>Main Content</h2> <h3>Topic 1: HTML Basics</h3> <p>This is content for Topic 1.</p> <h3>Topic 2: CSS Basics</h3> <p>This is content for Topic 2.</p> <h2>Conclusion</h2> <p>Thank you for reading!</p> </body> </html>
- Output:
<h1> is used for the main title. <h2> is used for section headings, and <h3> is used for sub-sections.
3. Styling Headings with CSS
Headings can be styled using CSS to change their appearance.
Example 2: Customizing Heading Styles
<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <title>Styled Headings</title> <style> h1 { color: darkblue; font-size: 36px; text-align: center; } h2 { color: darkgreen; font-size: 28px; border-bottom: 2px solid gray; } h3 { font-style: italic; color: purple; } </style> </head> <body> <h1>Welcome to My Website</h1> <h2>About Us</h2> <p>We provide useful content to our readers.</p> <h3>Our Mission</h3> <p>To make learning easy and fun!</p> </body> </html>
- Explanation:
- <h1> has a dark blue color, larger font size, and centered alignment.
- <h2> has a dark green color, slightly smaller font size, and a bottom border.
- <h3> is styled with italics and a purple color.
4. Importance of Heading Order
Headings should follow a logical order to maintain proper document structure and improve accessibility.
- Do:
- Use headings in a descending order: <h1>, <h2>, <h3>, and so on.
- Use only one <h1> per page for the main title.
- Don’t:
- Skip heading levels (e.g., jumping from <h1> to <h4>).
- Use headings purely for styling. Use CSS instead.
Example 3: Proper Heading Structure
<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <title>Proper Heading Structure</title> </head> <body> <h1>Main Title of the Page</h1> <h2>Section 1</h2> <p>This is content under Section 1.</p> <h3>Subsection 1.1</h3> <p>Details for Subsection 1.1.</p> <h2>Section 2</h2> <p>This is content under Section 2.</p> <h3>Subsection 2.1</h3> <p>Details for Subsection 2.1.</p> </body> </html>
5. Accessibility Considerations
- Screen readers rely on properly ordered headings to help visually impaired users navigate content.
- Use <h1> only once for the page’s main heading.
- Always include headings in a logical sequence.
Conclusion
HTML headings (<h1> to <h6>) are fundamental to creating well-structured, accessible, and easy-to-read content. Combine them with CSS for styling, and always follow best practices for proper document structure.
With these examples, you can now:
- Create headings for your HTML pages.
- Style headings using CSS.
- Maintain accessible and well-ordered content.