BETA release

H_09 Heading level 7 correctly rolemapped to H6

PDF126, PASS

Use case(s): Headings

Last updated on April 21, 2025

Description

The objective of this technique is to show how to tag headings with a heading level higher than 6.

Use a custom Hn tag that expresses the appropriate heading level. Role mapping an Hn heading tag higher than H6 to H6 allows assistive technology that does not support headings above H6 to nonetheless perceive a heading. Role mapping an Hn heading tag higher than H6 to P could serve the purpose of simplifying the headings hierarchy. Choosing an appropriate role mapping is at the discretion of the author. This example shows H7 rolemapped to H6. H_08 shows H7 rolemapped to P.

In order to ensure that software which supports headings higher than level 6 can obtain a common understanding of the document’s structure, PDF/UA requires that heading tags higher than 6 are defined by the letter H followed by Arabic numerals without any spaces or punctuation. For example, H1247 is permissible while H1,247 and H1 247 are not.

Download(s)

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

UA1_Tpdf-H_09.pdf

Test(s)

Expected Results

Checks #⁠1 to #⁠8 are all true.

Procedure

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.
Check that headings with heading levels higher than 6 use custom Hn tags role mapped appropriately.

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
02-001
02-002
14-001
14-002
14-003
14-005

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_09

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