Audit rules

Skipped Heading Level

A heading level is skipped going down the outline (H1 to H3, H2 to H4). Going back up (H4 to H2) is allowed. In a QuikSEO audit, a failure has warning severity and counts against the score. The exact condition, its exceptions and its sources follow below.

01 — Definition

How This Rule Is Checked

The rule is a pure function of the fetched page: no extra requests, no account settings. The same input always gives the same result.

Rule Severity and Score

Rule id: headings.skipped_level
Group: Headings
Severity of a failure: Warning
Counts in the score: Yes, whenever it applies to the page
Required for a score: No

Condition and Exceptions

Condition: A heading level is skipped going down (H1 → H3, H2 → H4); going back up is allowed
Exceptions: No headings → not_applicable

Sources and Project Decision

Sources: HTML Standard: 4.3.11 Headings and outlines (WHATWG, Q54)
Headings | Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) | W3C (W3C, Q91)
Project decision: Severity is a project decision [D]; the plan gives none. The first heading sets the starting level.

02 — Headings

Other Rules in This Group

The other checks of the same group, each with its own condition and sources.

H1 Lengthheadings.h1_length
H1 Missingheadings.h1_missing
Multiple H1 Headingsheadings.h1_multiple
Heading Outlineheadings.outline