Headings & Page Structure

How you organize and structure your web pages and documents makes a huge difference for accessibility — and for everyone who reads your content. Headings are not just visual formatting. They create structure.

Organizing Content on Your Pages

Headings create structure — but accessible content also needs to be easy to read and process.

Avoid large blocks of text. Break information into smaller, digestible sections.

Use:

• Headings to divide major sections
• Short paragraphs (2–4 sentences)
• White space between sections
• Bulleted lists for related items
• Numbered lists for steps or sequences

Why This Matters

Large “walls of text” are difficult for:

• Screen reader users
• People with cognitive disabilities
• Readers on mobile devices
• Anyone scanning for key information

Well-organized content improves comprehension and usability for everyone.

Using Heading Styles

Headings (H1, H2, H3, etc.) act as a map for screen readers and help search engines understand your content.

Important:

• Headings are not for visual styling.
• Never use bold, larger font, or underlined text to create sections. Always use built-in heading styles.

Why Headings Matter

For Screen Reader Users

Headings allow users to:

• Jump between sections quickly
• Navigate using a list of headings
• Understand how content is organized
• Find specific information efficiently

For many users, headings function like a table of contents.

For everyone

Headings:

• Create a clear visual hierarchy
• Make content easier to scan
• Improve comprehension
• Help readers quickly locate information

Well-structured pages are easier to read — for all users.