What this criterion requires
Section headings are used to organize content, wherever the content is structured into sections.
Who it helps
Everyone who scans; screen reader users navigating by heading.
Example: fails vs passes
A 3,000-word terms page as one unbroken block of paragraphs.
The same page broken into sections, each under a descriptive h2/h3.
AAA: use real section headings wherever content has sections.
How to meet and fix it
- Head every distinct content section with a real heading element in order
Common failures auditors find
- Long unbroken text walls; visual dividers standing in for headings
Automated scanning catches a share of these instantly - run a free check - and a manual audit covers the judgement calls a tool cannot make.
Sources
- W3C, Understanding 2.4.10: Section Headings - w3.org/WAI
- W3C, How to Meet 2.4.10 (quick reference) - w3.org/WAI/quickref
Last updated . Reviewed by the EqualWeb accessibility team.
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