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<h2>

Defines a level 2 heading (section heading)

Definition and Usage

The <h2> element establishes a level 2 heading in an HTML document. It represents major section headings that fall under the main <h1> title.

HTML headings are defined with the <h1> to <h6> tags, where <h1> is the most important and <h6> is the least important.

Tip: Use <h2> tags to divide your content into major sections. Each major topic or section should have its own <h2> heading.
Best Practice: Always ensure an <h1> exists before using <h2>. Don't skip heading levels in the hierarchy.

Browser Support

The <h2> tag is supported in all major browsers:

Chrome
Chrome
Yes
Firefox
Firefox
Yes
Safari
Safari
Yes
Edge
Edge
Yes
Opera
Opera
Yes

Examples

Basic H2 Heading

Create section headings with H2:

Example

<h1>Complete HTML Guide</h1>

<h2>Introduction to HTML</h2>
<p>HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language...</p>

<h2>HTML Elements</h2>
<p>HTML elements are the building blocks...</p>

H2 with Styling

Style section headings with CSS:

Example

<style>
  h2 {
    color: #1f2937;
    font-size: 32px;
    font-weight: 600;
    margin-top: 48px;
    margin-bottom: 24px;
    padding-bottom: 12px;
    border-bottom: 3px solid #3b82f6;
  }
</style>

<h2>Features Overview</h2>

Document Structure with H2

Create a well-structured document with proper heading hierarchy:

Example

<article>
  <h1>Web Development Best Practices</h1>

  <h2>HTML Best Practices</h2>
  <p>Writing semantic HTML is crucial for accessibility...</p>

  <h2>CSS Best Practices</h2>
  <p>Use modern CSS techniques for better styling...</p>

  <h2>JavaScript Best Practices</h2>
  <p>Write clean and maintainable JavaScript code...</p>
</article>

Semantic Hierarchy with H2 and H3

Combine H2 with H3 for deeper content structure:

Example

<article>
  <h1>Getting Started with React</h1>

  <h2>Installation</h2>
  <h3>Using npm</h3>
  <p>Install React using npm package manager...</p>

  <h3>Using Create React App</h3>
  <p>Use Create React App for quick setup...</p>

  <h2>Your First Component</h2>
  <h3>Functional Components</h3>
  <p>Create components using functions...</p>

  <h3>Class Components</h3>
  <p>Traditional class-based components...</p>
</article>

Heading Hierarchy

HTML headings follow a hierarchical structure from <h1> to <h6>:

H1 - Main Page Title
H2 - Major Section
H3 - Subsection
H4 - Sub-subsection
H5 - Minor heading
H6 - Least important
Warning: Don't skip heading levels. Always go from <h1><h2><h3>, etc. Never jump from <h1> directly to <h3>.

Default Heading Sizes

Comparison of default sizes for all heading tags:

Tag Default Size Importance Usage
<h1> 2em (32px) Most Important Main page title (one per page)
<h2> 1.5em (24px) High Major section headings
<h3> 1.17em (18.72px) Medium-High Subsection headings
<h4> 1em (16px) Medium Sub-subsection headings
<h5> 0.83em (13.28px) Low Minor headings
<h6> 0.67em (10.72px) Least Important Lowest level headings

SEO Best Practices

  • Multiple H2 Tags OK: Unlike H1, you can have multiple <h2> tags per page
  • Descriptive Headings: Make H2 headings clearly describe the section content
  • Include Keywords: Naturally incorporate relevant keywords in section headings
  • Logical Order: H2 should come after H1, and before H3
  • Content Division: Use H2 to break content into scannable sections
  • User Experience: Help users quickly understand page structure
  • Search Visibility: Search engines use H2 to understand page topics

Accessibility

Screen readers and assistive technologies rely on heading structure for navigation:

  • Section Markers: H2 tags mark major sections for screen reader users
  • Quick Navigation: Users can jump between H2 sections efficiently
  • Content Outline: H2 helps create a logical document outline
  • Hierarchical Structure: Maintain proper order (H1 → H2 → H3)
  • Meaningful Content: H2 text should clearly indicate section content
  • No Visual Styling Only: Don't use H2 just for size - use CSS instead
Accessibility Tip: Screen reader users often navigate by heading levels. Proper use of H2 tags helps them understand and navigate your content structure.

CSS Styling Examples

Modern H2 Design

Example

<style>
  h2 {
    font-size: 36px;
    font-weight: 600;
    color: #111827;
    margin: 40px 0 20px 0;
    position: relative;
    padding-left: 20px;
  }

  h2::before {
    content: '';
    position: absolute;
    left: 0;
    top: 50%;
    transform: translateY(-50%);
    width: 5px;
    height: 70%;
    background: linear-gradient(180deg, #3b82f6, #2563eb);
    border-radius: 3px;
  }
</style>

<h2>Section Heading</h2>

H2 with Icon

Example

<style>
  .icon-heading {
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    gap: 12px;
    font-size: 28px;
    font-weight: 600;
    color: #1f2937;
    margin: 32px 0 16px 0;
  }

  .icon-heading::before {
    content: '📚';
    font-size: 32px;
  }
</style>

<h2 class="icon-heading">Learning Resources</h2>

Numbered Section Headings

Example

<style>
  body {
    counter-reset: section;
  }

  h2 {
    font-size: 32px;
    font-weight: 600;
    color: #111827;
    counter-increment: section;
  }

  h2::before {
    content: counter(section) ". ";
    color: #3b82f6;
    font-weight: 700;
  }
</style>

<h2>Introduction</h2>
<h2>Getting Started</h2>
<h2>Advanced Topics</h2>

Best Practices

DO:
  • Use H2 for major section headings under your H1
  • Have multiple H2 tags to divide content into sections
  • Make H2 headings descriptive and relevant
  • Follow proper hierarchy (H1 before H2, H2 before H3)
  • Use CSS for styling, not heading choice
DON'T:
  • Use H2 before establishing an H1
  • Skip from H1 to H3 without H2
  • Choose headings based on visual size alone
  • Make H2 text too long (keep it concise)
  • Overuse H2 tags (only for true section divisions)

Related Tags

  • <h1>

    Level 1 heading (main title)

  • <h3>

    Level 3 heading

  • <h4>

    Level 4 heading

  • <h5>

    Level 5 heading

  • <h6>

    Level 6 heading

  • <section>

    Defines a section container