You might see <h2> 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
A second-level heading for a major section under the main document heading.
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.
<h1>My Garden</h1>
<section>
<h2>Watering</h2>
<p>Water the soil, not the leaves.</p>
</section>What Each Part Does
- The h2 identifies a major subsection.
- The h1 identifies the principal page heading.
- A section groups material about a related topic and usually has a heading.
Watering is announced as a section heading beneath My Garden.
Try It Yourself
Try replacing the example content with your own while keeping the valid HTML structure.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Choosing h2 just because its default font size looks right.
- 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
- A second-level heading for a major section under the main document heading.
- Watering is announced as a section heading beneath My Garden.
- Test the markup in a browser, and check accessibility and real-world behavior where relevant.