Comments on: Handling Headers: Where to Use h1 and h2 http://www.devlounge.net/code/handling-headers-where-to-use-h1-and-h2 Design, Develop, and Grow Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:15:51 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: bart http://www.devlounge.net/code/handling-headers-where-to-use-h1-and-h2/comment-page-1#comment-178435 bart Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:44:55 +0000 http://www.devlounge.net/?p=2051#comment-178435 Probably best solution as far as SEO and accessibility is to use: h1 (site title text replaced by logo image - use IR techniques) h2 (structural label - "main navigation" - hidden) h1 (article title followed by articles hierarchy of subsections) h2 (article related subsection) h3 (subsection's subsection) h2 (structural label - "sidebar" - hidden) h2 (structural label - "footer" - hidden) I've also seen only article being placed in h1-h6 hierarchy - http://www.htmlbasictutor.ca/search-engine-heading-structure.htm Probably best solution as far as SEO and accessibility is to use:
h1 (site title text replaced by logo image – use IR techniques)
h2 (structural label – “main navigation” – hidden)
h1 (article title followed by articles hierarchy of subsections)
h2 (article related subsection)
h3 (subsection’s subsection)
h2 (structural label – “sidebar” – hidden)
h2 (structural label – “footer” – hidden)

I’ve also seen only article being placed in h1-h6 hierarchy – http://www.htmlbasictutor.ca/search-engine-heading-structure.htm

]]> By: Nick Angiolillo http://www.devlounge.net/code/handling-headers-where-to-use-h1-and-h2/comment-page-1#comment-176827 Nick Angiolillo Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:08:28 +0000 http://www.devlounge.net/?p=2051#comment-176827 I like to think of it this way: the h1 should be the "subject" of the content on the page. Suppose you're on a page organized this way: Company -> About. In this case, "About" is the subject, and it should fill your h1. Suppose instead if you're on this page: Company -> About -> Our History. Here, "Our History" is the subject of the page, and that should be the h1. On an article page on a news site, the article title is h1. On a single blog entry page, the blog entry title is h1. In a multilevel site with subsections (as above), the section title is h1 when you're at the section landing page, and the subsection title is h1 when you're in a subsection page. In my opinion, it's all about the content of the current document, not the site structure as a whole. I like to think of it this way: the h1 should be the “subject” of the content on the page.

Suppose you’re on a page organized this way: Company -> About. In this case, “About” is the subject, and it should fill your h1.

Suppose instead if you’re on this page: Company -> About -> Our History. Here, “Our History” is the subject of the page, and that should be the h1.

On an article page on a news site, the article title is h1. On a single blog entry page, the blog entry title is h1. In a multilevel site with subsections (as above), the section title is h1 when you’re at the section landing page, and the subsection title is h1 when you’re in a subsection page.

In my opinion, it’s all about the content of the current document, not the site structure as a whole.

]]> By: Tracy http://www.devlounge.net/code/handling-headers-where-to-use-h1-and-h2/comment-page-1#comment-176794 Tracy Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:28:14 +0000 http://www.devlounge.net/?p=2051#comment-176794 I agree with you. Header tags should follow the traditional outline format to give the best presentation. I agree with you. Header tags should follow the traditional outline format to give the best presentation.

]]> By: kavitha http://www.devlounge.net/code/handling-headers-where-to-use-h1-and-h2/comment-page-1#comment-176788 kavitha Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:18:49 +0000 http://www.devlounge.net/?p=2051#comment-176788 I do completely agree with you. The title or the heading should be the boldest of all, hence I prefer to use h1. The others just follow accordingly: smaller ones for the least important ones. I do completely agree with you. The title or the heading should be the boldest of all, hence I prefer to use h1. The others just follow accordingly: smaller ones for the least important ones.

]]> By: Jack http://www.devlounge.net/code/handling-headers-where-to-use-h1-and-h2/comment-page-1#comment-176699 Jack Sat, 01 Nov 2008 17:17:13 +0000 http://www.devlounge.net/?p=2051#comment-176699 Why should the site name be a headline? I think it's more important than that, plus why waste the h1 tag on something that doesn't change and is part of every page? Dan L is right. Why should the site name be a headline? I think it’s more important than that, plus why waste the h1 tag on something that doesn’t change and is part of every page? Dan L is right.

]]> By: Useful Links (01/11/2008) | Apramana http://www.devlounge.net/code/handling-headers-where-to-use-h1-and-h2/comment-page-1#comment-176692 Useful Links (01/11/2008) | Apramana Sat, 01 Nov 2008 04:49:41 +0000 http://www.devlounge.net/?p=2051#comment-176692 [...] Handling Headers: Where to Use h1 and h2 [...] [...] Handling Headers: Where to Use h1 and h2 [...]

]]> By: Freelance Friday: My Writing Week 44 | tdhedengren http://www.devlounge.net/code/handling-headers-where-to-use-h1-and-h2/comment-page-1#comment-176687 Freelance Friday: My Writing Week 44 | tdhedengren Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:10:33 +0000 http://www.devlounge.net/?p=2051#comment-176687 [...] Handling Headers: Where to Use h1 and h2A piece on header hierarchy, on Devlounge [...] [...] Handling Headers: Where to Use h1 and h2A piece on header hierarchy, on Devlounge [...]

]]> By: redwall_hp http://www.devlounge.net/code/handling-headers-where-to-use-h1-and-h2/comment-page-1#comment-176673 redwall_hp Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:20:06 +0000 http://www.devlounge.net/?p=2051#comment-176673 I just noticed my post got Devlounge'd. :) Some good discussion going on here, I updated my post with a link to here. I just noticed my post got Devlounge’d. :) Some good discussion going on here, I updated my post with a link to here.

]]> By: H1 or H2? How to Handle Headers? | Webmaster-Source http://www.devlounge.net/code/handling-headers-where-to-use-h1-and-h2/comment-page-1#comment-176672 H1 or H2? How to Handle Headers? | Webmaster-Source Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:18:30 +0000 http://www.devlounge.net/?p=2051#comment-176672 [...] EDIT: Devlounge has posted a response to this post. [...] [...] EDIT: Devlounge has posted a response to this post. [...]

]]> By: Bramme http://www.devlounge.net/code/handling-headers-where-to-use-h1-and-h2/comment-page-1#comment-176671 Bramme Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:16:11 +0000 http://www.devlounge.net/?p=2051#comment-176671 Personally, I do it like you do: put my Logo in an H1 tag... Don't really know why, I've always done it like that. I kinda see my logo/website name as the first item on my page. Using something like or seems wrong. on the other hand... Personally, I do it like you do: put my Logo in an H1 tag… Don’t really know why, I’ve always done it like that.

I kinda see my logo/website name as the first item on my page. Using something like or seems wrong. on the other hand…

]]> By: Mike Robinson http://www.devlounge.net/code/handling-headers-where-to-use-h1-and-h2/comment-page-1#comment-176670 Mike Robinson Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:53:38 +0000 http://www.devlounge.net/?p=2051#comment-176670 I agree with Per's comment :) Though, with that comes with that is what happens with supplementary content. If the entry title is the h1, a supplementary content's heading shouldn't be h2 since if it doesn't relate to the content. Site Title h1. Entry Title h2. Sub-heading in entry h2. Supplementary heading ("Archives" for example) Using the Thord's method it would be: h1. Site Title h2. Entry Title h3. Sub-heading in entry h2. Supplementary heading ("Archives" for example) Which makes more sense, but I don't agree with having the site title as a constant h1. Unfortunately, I don't have a suggestion as to an appropriate approach as per Per's comment! I agree with Per’s comment :)

Though, with that comes with that is what happens with supplementary content. If the entry title is the h1, a supplementary content’s heading shouldn’t be h2 since if it doesn’t relate to the content.

Site Title
h1. Entry Title
h2. Sub-heading in entry
h2. Supplementary heading (“Archives” for example)

Using the Thord’s method it would be:

h1. Site Title
h2. Entry Title
h3. Sub-heading in entry
h2. Supplementary heading (“Archives” for example)

Which makes more sense, but I don’t agree with having the site title as a constant h1. Unfortunately, I don’t have a suggestion as to an appropriate approach as per Per’s comment!

]]> By: Ondrej http://www.devlounge.net/code/handling-headers-where-to-use-h1-and-h2/comment-page-1#comment-176669 Ondrej Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:40:32 +0000 http://www.devlounge.net/?p=2051#comment-176669 Daniel, I definitely agree with your solution. I think the page code should be good from usability and SEO standpoint, not only SEO. Therefore on each page should be clearly defined and apparent where the visitor is, and it should be consistent across the whole website - for that purpose the H1 is ideal. We're using H1 for server name + some relevant keywords or SEO-compatible claim, e.g. "Deutsche Bank - your online bank". In H2 we're using subsection / product or page title (depends on project). Daniel, I definitely agree with your solution. I think the page code should be good from usability and SEO standpoint, not only SEO. Therefore on each page should be clearly defined and apparent where the visitor is, and it should be consistent across the whole website – for that purpose the H1 is ideal. We’re using H1 for server name + some relevant keywords or SEO-compatible claim, e.g. “Deutsche Bank – your online bank”. In H2 we’re using subsection / product or page title (depends on project).

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