On-page SEO · Beginner

Heading tags

Heading tags (H1 to H6) mark the headings on a page, from the main headline (H1) to sections (H2) and sub-sections (H3 and below). They give the page an outline that readers, screen readers and search engines use.

By Thryv StudioUpdated

Category
On-page SEO
Level
Beginner
Also called
H1 to H6
Main heading
One H1 per page
Structure
H2 for sections, H3 for sub-sections

What are heading tags?

Headings are HTML elements from <h1> to <h6>. The H1 is the page's main headline; H2s divide the page into sections; H3s divide those sections further. Styled text that only looks like a heading isn't one.

Why they matter

  • Readers scan headings to decide whether a page answers their question.
  • Screen reader users navigate by headings.
  • Search engines and AI systems use headings to understand, and retrieve, individual sections.

Best practices

  1. Use one H1 that says what the page is about.
  2. Don't skip levels (H2 straight to H4).
  3. Write descriptive headings; question-style headings suit answer-focused sections.
  4. Don't use headings just for styling.

Frequently asked questions

Is more than one H1 a problem?

HTML allows it, but one clear H1 is easier for everyone to understand.

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