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Re: Multiple H1 tags in an HTML5 web page

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From: Jared Smith
Date: Mar 10, 2014 1:23PM

Greg Gamble wrote:
> I understand, but the numbers pointing to the use of a single H1 on a page as less desirable then having multiple H1's.

No, the data doesn't indicate this at all. It only indicates that 13%
more users prefer the site name/logo AND the document title as being
<h1>s, over just the document title.

> The idea that a single H1 on a page is correct has changed with HTML5.

No, not really. I refer back to Steve's quoting of the
recommendations: "Sections may contain headings of any rank, and
authors are strongly encouraged to use headings of the appropriate
rank for the section's nesting level."

> So adding them per the HTML5 spec seems to me the way to go, if it makes sense to do so.

It doesn't make sense, at least from an accessibility perspective. You
can present a heading structure that could cause confusion and that
relies on functionality that doesn't exist, or you can use a
properly-leveled heading structure that always has and always will
work. Assuming there is no barrier to you shifting the heading levels
appropriately, I can see no advantage to maintaining the structure
you've presented over properly-leveled headings.

> Another survey with HTML5 markup and multiple H1's in sections would be interesting to read ...

Yes, but only if the outlining mechanism is put in place and
supported. In the meantime, please refer to
http://webaim.org/projects/screenreadersurvey4/#levels which clearly
indicates a strong preference for properly-leveled headings.

Jared