Using Headings in Canvas

Headings are used to structure and organize content on a page by dividing it into sections, making it easier for readers to navigate and understand the information. Headings come in different levels (1-6), with level 1 being the most important (often used for main titles) and level 6 being the least important (used for sub-subsections). 

Headings improve readability for everyone and are especially important for screen reader users who rely on headings to navigate content. Proper use of headings ensures that your content is organized and accessible to all users.

Using Headings Properly 

Headings should follow the correct hierarchical order. Headings of equal or higher importance begin a new section, while headings of lower importance create subsections within the larger section. Additionally, heading levels should not be skipped. For instance, if you use a heading 2 and need to create a subsection, the next heading should be a heading 3, not a heading 4. However, after lower-importance headings, you can skip up to a higher-importance heading. For example, you can move from Heading 4 back up to Heading 2.

A page should only contain one heading level 1. Since Canvas automatically formats the page title as heading level 1, you should not use any additional heading level 1 tags within the body of your Canvas page.

Headings should only be used to indicate a new section of text. They should never be used to style regular text in a larger font.

Adding and Removing Headings

Adding headings can be done in the Canvas editor. In the left-most section of the toolbar above the body of the Canvas page, there is a paragraph styles drop-down menu. Select the appropriate heading level from the list. The Canvas editor only shows heading levels 2-4, but if necessary you can use all 6 levels of headings. To use these, you will need to use Design Tools (see next section).

Check Heading Levels Using Design Tools

Canvas Design Tools offers a simple way to view all your headings in one place. This feature helps ensure that you’re not skipping any heading levels and that your headings are at the correct levels for your Canvas page.

To use the Heading Checker, go into Design Tools and select the accessibility tab at the top:

Under the Accessibility banner, select the box titled “Heading Checker”:

This will show a list of all the headings in your document:

You can use the arrows to change the headings to a higher level or a lower level. If there is a skipped heading level, the heading checker will highlight it in red:

To fix the skipped heading, use the arrows to change the heading levels.