HTML Headings: Structure Your Content Effectively

Presented by GoNimbus – Simplifying Web Development

What Are HTML Headings?

HTML headings are used to define the titles, subtitles, and section headers within a webpage. They help structure your content in a meaningful, hierarchical way — both for users and search engines.

HTML provides six levels of headings:

<h1>Heading Level 1</h1>
<h2>Heading Level 2</h2>
<h3>Heading Level 3</h3>
<h4>Heading Level 4</h4>
<h5>Heading Level 5</h5>
<h6>Heading Level 6</h6>

✔ Example:

<h1>Welcome to GoNimbus</h1>
<h2>Learn HTML Easily</h2>
<h3>Start with Headings</h3>

Each level represents a different level of importance:

• <h1> is the most important and should appear only once per page (usually the page title).
• <h2> to <h6> are used for subheadings and further subdivisions.

Why Headings Matter?

✅ Improves Readability

Users quickly scan webpages. Clear headings help them navigate and find relevant sections easily.

✅ Boosts SEO

Search engines like Google use headings to understand the structure and relevance of your content. Proper use of <h1>, <h2>, etc., increases your chances of ranking higher.

✅ Enhances Accessibility

Screen readers and assistive technologies rely on proper heading structure to allow visually impaired users to navigate content efficiently.

Styling Headings With CSS

By default, each heading has a specific size. But you can customize it using the style attribute or external CSS.

✔ Example – Custom Font Size:

<h1 style="font-size:50px; color:#2a9d8f;">Explore HTML with GoNimbus</h1>

Or use external CSS for better scalability:

h1 {
  font-size: 50px;
  color: #2a9d8f;
  font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;
}

Best Practices for HTML Headings

🔸 Use only one <h1> per page – this should reflect the main topic.
🔸 Maintain a logical hierarchy (e.g., don’t skip from <h1> to <h4>).
🔸 Avoid using headings purely for visual styling – use CSS instead.
🔸 Keep headings concise and keyword-focused for better SEO.
🔸 Make headings descriptive to improve user engagement.

HTML Heading Tag Reference

❓ What Happens if You Use <h7>?

If you write:

<h7>This is an H7 heading</h7>

👉 Result:

• The browser does not render it as a heading.
• It will treat <h7> as an unknown or custom HTML tag.
• Most browsers will render it as normal inline text, without any special formatting (no bold or large font like real headings).
• It won’t have any SEO or accessibility benefits like <h1>–<h6>.

⚠️ Important Note:

Using <h7>, <h8>, etc., is not valid HTML. If you’re trying to add deeper hierarchy or custom styles, consider:

✅ Using <div> or <span> with CSS:

<div class="custom-heading">This is a custom level heading</div>

<style>
  .custom-heading {
    font-size: 14px;
    font-weight: bold;
  }
</style>

Common Mistakes to Avoid

🚫 Using multiple <h1> tags unnecessarily
🚫 Styling paragraphs to look like headings instead of using <h2> to <h6>
🚫 Ignoring headings on long-form content (hurts SEO and readability)
🚫 Skipping heading levels (e.g., <h1> directly to <h4>)

GoNimbus Pro Tip 💡

When writing blog posts or product documentation, draft an outline using headings first. This not only helps you stay organized but also aligns perfectly with SEO and content strategy.