Heading Hierarchy
Analyze and perfect your website's H1-H6 structure for maximum SEO and UX performance. Ensure your information architecture aligns with cognitive patterns.
The Science of Semantic Architecture
Heurilens’ Heading Hierarchy Analyzer scans any webpage and extracts all heading elements (H1–H6) to evaluate whether the structure follows a logical and sequential hierarchy. It detects common structural issues such as missing H1 tags, multiple H1s, skipped heading levels (for example, jumping from H2 to H4), and headings that are used decoratively rather than semantically.
Heading structure is not just a technical SEO detail. Search engines, AI systems, and accessibility technologies rely on heading hierarchy as a primary signal to understand how content is organized. Properly nested headings create a machine-readable content map that clarifies sections, subtopics, and depth of information. When headings are misused or structurally inconsistent, both ranking systems and AI models struggle to interpret the page accurately.
This analyzer evaluates whether headings progress logically, follow single-H1 best practices, and provide meaningful section labels instead of generic or visually styled text. Rather than simply listing tags, Heurilens assesses heading structure as part of your broader information architecture and cognitive clarity. Because headings are not just formatting elements — they define how both humans and machines understand your content.
Semantic SEO & Knowledge Graphs
Modern search engines build knowledge graphs. Properly nested headings allow machines to parse and identify section-level authority instantly.
A11y & Information Scaffolding
Screen readers rely on heading hierarchy to jump between sections. Broken order is an instant barrier to information access.
Masterclass: AI Citation Readiness Principle
Modern SEO requires content to be "scrapable" by AI. Effective heading hierarchy follows the cognitive "Layering" principle:
- The Hook (H1): We validate singularity. A page without an H1 is contextless; a page with multiple H1s is confusing.
- The Skeleton (H2): Acts as the cognitive table of contents. Each H2 should represent a unique mental model or topic.
- Lexical Signal (H3+): Deep-dive data. Only reachable once the user is committed to a section via an H2.
Common Questions
Can I have multiple H1 tags on one page?
While HTML5 technically allows it, it's a poor SEO practice. One H1 per page ensures a single, clear primary topic for crawlers and LLMs.
Do headings affect mobile conversion?
Crucially. Mobile users have less visual context. Clear, descriptive headings help them orient themselves quickly on smaller screens where F-pattern scanning is intensified.
What is a 'Sequential Heading Error'?
It's when you skip a level (e.g., H2 followed by H4). This breaks the logical flow for both AI crawlers and assistive technology, leading to 'Information Fragmentation'.
How long should a heading be?
H1s should be descriptive (20-70 chars). Subheadings should be concise enough to be understood at a glance while scanning, focusing on high-density keywords.