You might see <h1> Element reference while reading someone else’s HTML, or need it while building a page of your own. Instead of memorizing a definition, look at a working example and see when the element makes sense.
The Idea in Plain English
The most important page heading. Use a clear name for the page and organize subtopics under lower heading levels.
For a reference page, pay attention to where the element is allowed, whether it needs a closing tag, and what other elements it can contain.
A Working Example
Read the sample once before copying it. Notice the element names and attribute values, then compare them with the explanation below.
<main>
<h1>Learn the Night Sky</h1>
<p>Start with three easy constellations.</p>
</main>What Each Part Does
- The h1 identifies the principal page heading.
- The main landmark identifies the page’s primary content.
- A paragraph keeps one idea together as readable text.
The heading identifies the main topic of the document.
Try It Yourself
Try replacing the example content with your own while keeping the valid HTML structure.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Using multiple headings only for font size without following the content outline.
- Changing several parts of the example at once, making it difficult to see which part caused a different result.
- Choosing a tag only because its default appearance looks right, without checking whether it describes the content correctly.
Key Takeaways
- The most important page heading. Use a clear name for the page and organize subtopics under lower heading levels.
- The heading identifies the main topic of the document.
- Test the markup in a browser, and check accessibility and real-world behavior where relevant.