This translation has not been editorially reviewed yet. The German version is authoritative. Deutsche Fassung
Accessibility
When does a text need subheadings?
A text without subheadings is a single block without jump marks for a read-out program. Level AAA criterion 2.4.10 requires content to be structured with section headings where the content has sections. It applies to text and forms, not to controls of an application, and does not require a headline before each paragraph, but before each paragraph.
What the Criterion Requires
Where a content consists of several parts, each part bears a heading marked as such (h2 to h6). A long text about a procedure gets headings for requirements, expiration, costs, deadlines. A form with several groups gets a heading or a field group legend for each group. The point is the jump mark: read-out programs list headlines and jump there; Readers skim them and find what they are looking for.
Delimitation to mandatory criteria
Level A (1.3.1) requires existing headings to be marked as headings, not bold text. Level AA (2.4.6) requires headings to describe their content. Neither requires there to be headlines. Criterion 2.4.10 closes this gap: A long text without outline meets A and AA, but not AAA.
This is how we deal with it
The measurement counts words per page and headings per level; Long text sections without a heading can be found and identified. Whether the structure corresponds to the content, judges a person. The criterion belongs to the category AAA in knowledge.
Examples
Long text without subheadings
<h1>Förderung</h1>
<p>Voraussetzungen … (400 Wörter)</p>
<p>Ablauf … (300 Wörter)</p>
<p>Fristen … (200 Wörter)</p><h1>Förderung</h1>
<h2>Voraussetzungen</h2><p>…</p>
<h2>Ablauf</h2><p>…</p>
<h2>Fristen</h2><p>…</p>Each section of meaning is given a heading; Read-out programs jump from headline to headline.
- Read long pages as a list of headings (read-out program or extension): If a brand is missing, a heading is missing.
- Set a heading of the appropriate level before each paragraph; do not jump any level.
- Structure forms with field groups and legends: personal details, address, payment.
- Keep headlines short and meaningful; They are also the table of contents.
