The HTML tag that produces the biggest heading is <h1>.
Understanding HTML Headings
HTML provides six levels of section headings, ranging from <h1> to <h6>. These tags are crucial for structuring web content, making it easier for both users and search engines to understand the hierarchy and main topics of a page.
As noted in the reference, the HTML Section Heading elements <h1–<h6 represent different levels in the document's outline. Specifically, <h1> is the highest section level and <h6> is the lowest. This hierarchical structure typically correlates with the default visual size displayed by browsers, where <h1> text is the largest and <h6> text is the smallest.
HTML Heading Hierarchy and Size
Headings define the importance of the content that follows them. <h1> is used for the most important heading on a page, usually the main title or topic. Subsequent headings (<h2>, <h3>, etc.) are used for sub-sections, following a logical order.
Here's a quick look at the standard heading levels and their typical rendering:
| HTML Tag | Section Level | Typical Default Size |
|---|---|---|
<h1> |
Highest (Most Important) | Largest |
<h2> |
Second Highest | Large |
<h3> |
Third Highest | Medium-Large |
<h4> |
Fourth Highest | Medium |
<h5> |
Fifth Highest | Medium-Small |
<h6> |
Lowest (Least Important) | Smallest |
Note: While browsers have default sizes for these tags, their appearance can be easily modified using CSS (Cascading Style Sheets).
Practical Use Cases for Headings
Using headings correctly not only helps with SEO but also significantly improves accessibility and user experience by providing a clear structure for your content.
Here are some examples of how to use headings:
<h1>: Used for the main title of a page or the primary topic of an article. There should ideally be only one<h1>per page.- Example:
<h1>Main Title of the Article</h1>
- Example:
<h2>: Used for major sections or sub-topics under the<h1>.- Example:
<h2>Introduction</h2>
- Example:
<h3>: Used for sub-sections within an<h2>section.- Example:
<h3>Background Information</h3>
- Example:
<h4>to<h6>: Used for further sub-sections within<h3tags, creating more granular structure as needed.
Always use headings in a logical, descending order (<h1> followed by <h2>, then <h3>, and so on) to maintain proper document structure, even if you use CSS to alter their visual size.
