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

[UptonGirl]

Okay, all interesting, all helpful.

As for this question:

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

Where do they say that?

I don't recall - so my be mistaken -- I'll get back to you if I find it.


Now, the circumstance under which it bugs me: (totally made up examples)

I'm working on a site - and using a template. I have multiple pages on the same or similar topic (or sub-topic)

In print media, it makes sense to have a particular heading style begin the topic (chapter, or section) and then to have a complementary style (smaller version of font, not bolded, lower color saturation, something to make it clear it is related but "less than") for subsequent page or section headers that still belong in that "chapter."

So, let's say I have a website on the topic "Common Household Pets"

One "Chapter" would be on cats. Cats would be in H1

But there are many varieties of domestic cats. And, I don't want a page that scrolls forever. In this case, I'd also prefer not to have a long list of links (but that may be the 'proper' solution - not sure)

So, I have a page about cats in general. Then, I want to talk about varieties of cats, and sub-varieties of cats.

My outline start may look something like this:

DOMESTIC CATS (H1)

Common shorthair (h2)

blah blah blah

Common longhair (h2)

blah blah blah

-----------

I now have a page that scrolls as far as I'm willing to let it (when it comes to cats, there's a lot to "blah" about.)

But now, I want to discuss hairless cats. That's going to be on the next page. I don't want to repeat the heading DOMESTIC CATS (H1) - and I do want the section header Hairless cats to match Common shorthair (h2) and Common longhair (h2)

One way around it all would be to use a text image for the words DOMESTIC CATS and, presuming it's really not bad form to use H1 repeatedly, make all my category headings H1

I can imagine other ways as well - but it's true my notions of how these things should look come from print or PDF rather than HTML standards.

I've yet to read the articles linked - they may answer my question. I'll get back to this thread if they don't - or even if they do. I'm happy to hear what else anyone has to say on this.

And Darin, I like your reasoning, but here is the question it bring up:

Is it okay to have a page that does not have any H1 heading, but does have h2, h3 and so on? If so, that solves my problem completely. I would define "entire document" in my example either as the Common Household Pets or DOMESTIC CATS - depending on a couple of factors, mostly site size.

PS: I'm ill, and have been for a while - my head's a bit fuzzed. Forgive me if that shows too badly.

This post has been edited by UptonGirl: Aug 28 2009, 08:09 PM