How to use the heading tag extractor
- 1Enter a page address under Check a URL and press Extract headings, or paste source code under Paste HTML.
- 2Check the counts per level and the Issues list.
- 3Read the Outline: headings are indented by level, with problems marked inline. Use the level menu to show only H2s, for example.
- 4Press Copy outline for an indented text version or CSV for a spreadsheet.
Example: the sample page
<h1>How to make a sourdough starter</h1> <h3>What you need</h3> <h2>Day 1</h2> <h2></h2>
H1 How to make a sourdough starter
H3 What you need ⚠ Jumps from H1 to H3.
H2 Day 1
H2 (empty) ⚠ Empty H2.Output of Load sample HTML → Extract from HTML.
Reading the heading outline
Headings form the table of contents of a page: the H1 names the page, H2s are its main sections, H3s are subsections of an H2, and so on. The outline indents each heading by its level so you can read the page's structure at a glance and see whether it matches the content: a section that should be an H2 but is marked H4, a sidebar widget title that interrupts the main outline, or a heading used only to make text big.
One H1 or several?
HTML allows several H1s and Google has said multiple H1s are not a problem for ranking. The checker still notes them, because one H1 that states what the page is about is clearer for readers, for screen-reader users who jump to the H1, and for anyone scanning search snippets built from headings. A missing H1 is flagged as a warning: the page has no explicit main heading.
Skipped levels and empty headings
A skipped level is a jump down by more than one step, such as H2 straight to H4. Going back up (H4 to H2) is fine; it starts a new section. Skips usually mean a heading was chosen for its size rather than its role; fix the level and restyle it with CSS. An empty heading contains no text (often an icon or an image without alt text); screen readers announce it as a blank heading, so add text or remove the heading element.
Headings, accessibility and SEO
Screen-reader users commonly navigate by headings, jumping from one to the next to find the section they need, which is why WCAG asks for headings that describe their sections (Success Criterion 2.4.6) and a structure that reflects the content (1.3.1). Search engines use headings as one signal of what each part of the page covers, and Google may build a title link from a heading when the title tag is poor. Descriptive headings help both.
Exporting headings for content audits
Copy outline gives indented plain text you can paste into a document or brief. CSV gives one row per heading with its position, level, text and any issue, ready for a spreadsheet: useful for comparing your page's sections with competitors' pages, or auditing several pages of a site one by one. Pair it with the meta tags analyzer for titles and descriptions and the website SEO checker for a full page audit.
What happens to the address I enter?
To check a URL, our server requests the address you enter and returns the result to you. We don't store the pages we fetch or keep a list of the addresses you check. If you paste HTML or text instead, it is processed in your browser and not sent to us. Like any website, our hosting provider keeps short-lived technical request logs for security. See the privacy policy.