Techniques for WCAG 2.0

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T3: Using standard text formatting conventions for headings

Applicability

Plain text documents. Not applicable to technologies that contain markup.

This technique relates to:

Description

The objective of this technique is to use text formatting conventions to convey the structure of the content. Headings are used to locate and label sections of a text document, showing the organization of the document.

The beginning of a heading is indicated by

The end of a heading is indicated by

A blank line contains any number of non-printing characters, such as space or tab, followed by a new line.

Examples

Example 1

A paragraph is followed by two blank lines, then a heading, then one blank line, then another paragraph:

Example Code:


						
...this is the end of paragraph 1.


The Text of the Heading

This is the beginning of paragraph 2.


Resources

No resources available for this technique.

(none currently listed)

Tests

Procedure

For each heading in the content:

  1. Check that each heading is preceded by two blank lines

  2. Check that each heading is followed by a blank line

  3. Check that no heading contains any blank lines

Expected Results

If this is a sufficient technique for a success criterion, failing this test procedure does not necessarily mean that the success criterion has not been satisfied in some other way, only that this technique has not been successfully implemented and can not be used to claim conformance.