Note: The creation of this article on testing Section Headings was human-based, with the assistance of artificial intelligence.
Explanation of the success criteria
WCAG 2.4.10 Section Headings is a Level AAA conformance level Success Criterion. Content must be organized with descriptive section headings that clearly communicate structure, relationships, and hierarchy. The goal is to help users navigate complex information effortlessly, understand how sections relate, and locate the content they need, particularly for users of assistive technologies and those with cognitive challenges.
Not every piece of content requires a heading, but sections that group related information should be clearly labeled. Thoughtful headings enhance readability, support keyboard and screen reader navigation, and provide clarity that benefits all users. In short, this criterion transforms dense or fragmented content into an intuitive, structured experience.
Beyond compliance, Level AAA requirements like this signal a strategic mindset: accessibility as a competitive advantage, not a checklist. Organizations that embrace such standards demonstrate intentionality in every interaction, crafting digital experiences that are inclusive, transparent, and usable for everyone.
Who does this benefit?
The advantages of meaningful section headings extend far beyond compliance. They support:
- Screen reader users: Headings act as navigable landmarks, enabling users to jump between sections without reading the entire page.
- Keyboard-only users: Properly structured headings make it faster and easier to navigate content with keyboard shortcuts.
- Users with cognitive or learning disabilities: Clear headings break information into digestible sections, aiding comprehension and reducing cognitive load.
- Users with limited attention or memory: Well-labeled sections help maintain orientation on complex pages.
- All users: Logical, descriptive headings improve scannability, making content more readable and actionable for everyone.
In essence, good section headings convert complexity into clarity, benefiting all users while enhancing the overall usability of your digital experience.
Testing via Automated testing
Automated tools are invaluable for quickly scanning large sites to identify missing heading tags (H1–H6), improper nesting, or empty headings. They excel at structural checks and scale but cannot determine whether headings are meaningful, descriptive, or contextually appropriate, critical aspects of true accessibility.
Testing via Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI introduces a semantic dimension, evaluating whether headings make sense within context, detecting inconsistencies in hierarchy, and suggesting improvements. This approach is more sophisticated than automation alone but still requires human oversight, as AI may misinterpret nuance, tone, or cultural context.
Testing via Manual Testing
Human judgment remains irreplaceable. Manual testing assesses whether headings genuinely enhance comprehension, navigation, and usability. Testers evaluate clarity, consistency, and practical utility across scenarios including screen readers, keyboard navigation, and cognitive accessibility. The trade-off is time and scale; manual testing is resource-intensive for large websites.
Which approach is best?
No single method can fully capture the intent of WCAG 2.4.10 Section Headings. A hybrid approach delivers both efficiency and depth.
Automated testing serves as the first line of defense, rapidly scanning entire sites for structural issues such as missing headings, improper nesting, or empty tags. This method ensures foundational compliance at scale, providing a high-level map of potential problem areas.
AI-based testing adds a layer of semantic intelligence, analyzing headings in context to detect ambiguity, repetition, or misalignment with content structure. By understanding meaning and hierarchy, AI tools can highlight subtle inconsistencies that automation alone cannot capture, offering actionable recommendations to strengthen content clarity.
Manual testing brings the indispensable perspective of human judgment. Testers evaluate whether headings genuinely guide users, support navigation, and enhance comprehension across real-world scenarios, including screen reader use, keyboard-only navigation, and cognitive accessibility considerations. This qualitative insight ensures headings are not merely compliant but truly usable.
When integrated, these three approaches create a comprehensive, human-centered assessment. Headings cease to be just technical markers; they become meaningful signposts that communicate structure, facilitate navigation, and elevate the overall user experience. Organizations that embrace this hybrid strategy demonstrate a commitment to accessibility as a strategic, user-focused principle rather than a checkbox exercise.