Heading elements are essential components of HTML that structure a web page’s content. They range from H1 to H6, with H1 being the highest level and H6 the least. These headings communicate the hierarchy of topics and subtopics on a page, similar to a table of contents.
Google's Perspective on Headings
In a recent discussion, Google’s Gary Illyes addressed a question about the SEO impact of using heading elements (H1, H2, etc.) in a hierarchical order. His insights shed light on the actual value of heading elements for SEO.
The Role of Heading Elements
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which defines HTML standards, describes heading elements as follows:
“HTML defines six levels of headings. A heading element implies all the font changes, paragraph breaks before and after, and any white space necessary to render the heading. The heading elements are H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, and H6 with H1 being the highest (or most important) level and H6 the least.”
Google's Official Stance
A question was raised about whether using headings in semantic order is essential for Google’s search ranking, referencing the SEO Starter Guide. Gary Illyes responded:
“We update our documentation quite frequently to ensure that it’s always up to date. In fact, the SEO starter guide was refreshed just a couple of months back to ensure it’s still relevant, so what you read in the guide is as accurate as it can get. Also, just because a non-Google tool tells you something is good or bad, that doesn’t make it relevant for Google; it may still be a good idea, just not necessarily relevant to Google.”
HTML Standards and Hierarchical Headings
According to the official HTML5 specifications:
“A heading element briefly describes the topic of the section it introduces. Heading information may be used by user agents, for example, to construct a table of contents for a document automatically.”
The standards also state:
“The first element of heading content in an element of sectioning content represents the heading for that section. Subsequent headings of equal or higher rank start new (implied) sections, headings of lower rank start implied subsections that are part of the previous one.”
While the HTML standards encourage nesting headings for subtopics, this is a strong recommendation rather than a rigid rule.
Accessibility Considerations
The only strict recommendation for hierarchical heading structure is in the context of accessibility, where it’s important for screen readers.
Conclusion
The use of heading elements in a hierarchical order is encouraged but not strictly necessary for SEO purposes according to Google. The SEO tools suggesting that proper hierarchical use of headings improves SEO are partly correct, as it helps with accessibility but does not directly impact Google’s search rankings. This means that while H1 is crucial for screen readers, it is not the most important for Google’s SEO considerations.
Key Takeaways
Use heading elements to structure content hierarchically for clarity and accessibility.
Google’s ranking systems do not prioritize hierarchical heading order for SEO.
Follow best practices for accessibility to ensure content is readable by all users.
By understanding and implementing these insights, webmasters can ensure their content is both user-friendly and aligned with Google’s guidelines.
