Canvas Accessibility Checker - Heading Errors

Headings provide a clear structure to your content. They range from the main title (H1) down to more detailed subsections. For example, a Heading 1 (H1) is often only used for the main title of a page, while a Heading 2 (H2) is used for main sections of the document. A Heading 3 (H3) acts as a subsection of Heading 2 (H2) which can help break down larger main sections into small parts. Headings help all users, especially those with cognitive disabilities or limited attention spans, to process and understand the information more easily. For users relying on assistive technologies like screen readers, headings allow users to navigate content by jumping between headings, making it faster to locate relevant sections without reading everything line by line.

Heading Hierarchy Error

Headings must follow a specific order, known as a hierarchy. When moving to a lower heading level (e.g., H2 to H3), you must not skip levels (e.g., H2 to H4). However, you can move back up levels, such as from an H4 to an H2.

If a heading on your page skips a level, Canvas will flag it in the accessibility checker. It will look like this: 

If you open the dropdown under action to take, you can select whether to “Fix heading hierarchy” or “Remove heading style”. 

If you select “Fix heading hierarchy” and then apply, Canvas will automatically adjust the heading to the correct level. For instance, if a heading is H4 but should be H3, Canvas will change it.

Headings More Than 120 Characters Error

Headings should be concise and describe what a section of content is about. They should not be used to make paragraph text larger. If a heading exceeds 120 characters, Canvas will display an error:

If the heading should be a paragraph, select the box next to “Change heading tag to paragraph” and click apply.