HEADINGS, As much of a b*tch as a Question Options

[UptonGirl]

But a question still.


Web standards demand that H1 be used only once per page.

The others may be used multiple times (if I understand correctly) but must be in order.

I can't see the reason in this. I presume there is one, and someone will know what it is. Hopefully someone who will explain it to me.

At the moment - it reminds me of some of my Bostonian childhood rules - such as under what circumstances a lady (read: any human female showing, or soon to show, any sign of puberty) must, or must not, wear gloves and what color, and length -- wrist length and white with only the slightest detail for the street, thank you.

Common conversation with my 20-something son - who was raised in a semi-rural hippie-esque world:

Son, looking at old snapshots:

Mom, you're in a sleeveless dress here, so it wasn't cold. But, you have on gloves! Why gloves? Was there something wrong with your hands?

Me:

No, dear - it was just the mid-60's in Boston.

Son:

Huh?

That's the b* part - now the question:

WHY?

If I like a size or style I have set for a heading - and want to use it in a spot that is "out of order" what's the problem? Yes, I can recreate the style with a css tag. But again why?

I understand this hierarchy is custom - but does it have a function? If so, what is it?

This post has been edited by UptonGirl: Aug 26 2009, 12:07 AM

[Christian J]

Web standards demand that H1 be used only once per page.

Where do they say that?

The others may be used multiple times (if I understand correctly) but must be in order.

More specifically, they should be in a logical order. Like http://www.w3.org/TR/html401/struct/global.html#edef-H1 says,

"Some people consider skipping heading levels to be bad practice. They accept H1 H2 H1 while they do not accept H1 H3 H1 since the heading level H2 is skipped."

(BTW note how the example contains two H1 elements). OTOH the hiearchy is still retained even with H1 H3 H1, since H3 is lower in hiearchy than H1, but an order like H3 H2 H1 seems illogical.

I can't see the reason in this. I presume there is one, and someone will know what it is. Hopefully someone who will explain it to me.

Here's a discussion: http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?t=531406

a lady (read: any human female showing, or soon to show, any sign of puberty)

That's structure.

must, or must not, wear gloves and what color, and length -- wrist length and white with only the slightest detail for the street, thank you.

That's presentation. A better example might be an ordinary citizen in uniform pretending to be a police officer (which is a crime), or a police officer in civilian clothes working under cover (which is legal but confusing). Being a police officer is structure, wearing a uniform is presentation.

If I like a size or style I have set for a heading - and want to use it in a spot that is "out of order" what's the problem?

Sounds like your priorities are wrong. E.g., you shouldn't use a H1 for a sub-section only because it looks nice (see below).

Yes, I can recreate the style with a css tag. But again why?

I understand this hierarchy is custom - but does it have a function? If so, what is it?

HTML elements are meant for structure and/or semantical purposes. E.g., for a search engine or a blind user an H1 element with a small font size is still an H1 element (the most important header), and shouldn't be used for less important sub-sections. A police officer will still be a police officer regardless of how he dress, but if he uses his uniform there will be less confusion.