HTML heading tags (<h1> through <h6>) define the headings and subheadings of your content. They create a hierarchical structure that helps both users and search engines understand the organization of your page.
The Heading Hierarchy
<h1>— The main heading of the page. Should be used only once per page. Typically the post title or page title.<h2>— Major section headings. The primary way to divide content into sections.<h3>— Subsections within an H2 section.<h4>to<h6>— Deeper subsections. Rarely needed in most content.
Why It Matters
- SEO — Search engines use headings to understand the topic and structure of your content. Keywords in headings carry more weight.
- Accessibility — Screen readers use headings to navigate the page. Users can jump between headings to find relevant content.
- Readability — Headings break up long content and help readers scan for information.
Common WordPress Mistakes
- Multiple H1 tags — Some themes output an H1 for the site title and another for the page title.
- Skipping levels — Jumping from H2 to H4 without an H3 breaks the hierarchy.
- Using headings for styling — Using an H3 because you like the font size rather than because it's a subsection.
- No H1 at all — Missing the main heading entirely.
What InspectWP Checks
InspectWP analyzes the heading structure of your WordPress page, listing all headings in order. It detects missing H1 tags, multiple H1 tags, and skipped heading levels.