BETA release

H_05 Heading levels correctly not skipped

PDF122, PASS

Use case(s): Headings

Last updated on April 21, 2025

Description

The objective of this technique is to show how to use heading tags to provide a logical heading hierarchy to facilitate non-visual access to the content in a document.

In order to ensure a reliably navigable document, PDF/UA-1 prohibits skipping heading levels. In this case, the tags use H1 followed by H2 even though the second heading visually appears to be a third-level heading.

Download(s)

These minimal examples are designed to express a single Technique. Effective use requires software that supports Tagged PDF.

UA1_Tpdf-H_05.pdf

Test(s)

Expected Results

Checks #⁠1 to #⁠7 are all true.

Procedures

Check that all fundamental techniques are followed.
Check that all real content that the author intends as a heading is tagged as a heading.
Check that heading tags are not used when the author does not intend a heading.
Check that either:
- only Hn tags are used, or
- only appropriately-nested H tags are used.
Check that the first Hn tag, if any, is an H1.
Check that the heading levels are appropriate to the content hierarchy of the document.
Check that no heading levels are skipped.

Application to WCAG 2.x

This Technique addresses the following WCAG 2.x Success Critieria:

1.3.1 Info and Relationships

Matterhorn Protocol

The Matterhorn Protocol 1.1 provides an algorithm for conformance with PDF/UA-1. Matterhorn checkpoint(s) (human or machine) relevant to this use-case:

01-006
14-001
14-002
14-003

Accessibility Technique Support Finder

Accessibility Technique Support Finders allows you to quickly locate software and services that claim to support a given Technique. Simply search the internet with a given technique’s finder together with the name of your product.

The technique finder for this Technique is: UA1_Tpdf-H_05

NOTE: the “technique support finder” concept was introduced in January 2025; please allow time for adoption.