Re: Using <h2> as subtitle in W3C specifications

As a screen reader user, Sometimes I feel like there is such a thing as 
semantic overload.

Think what is lost vs what is gained vs the UX cost of the gain.

Perhaps such extra markup could bring more value than pain... I am not 
sure.

Matt King
IBM Senior Technical Staff Member
I/T Chief Accessibility Strategist
IBM BT/CIO - Global Workforce and Web Process Enablement 
Phone: (503) 578-2329, Tie line: 731-7398
mattking@us.ibm.com



From:   James Craig <jcraig@apple.com>
To:     Robin Berjon <robin@w3.org>, 
Cc:     "spec-prod@w3.org" <spec-prod@w3.org>, Steve Faulkner 
<sfaulkner@paciellogroup.com>
Date:   03/12/2015 05:24 PM
Subject:        Re: Using <h2> as subtitle in W3C specifications



Would it be better to keep the subheading in the same <h#> element, and 
indicate the sub-level status semantically. A <p> outside the heading does 
not do that. Some suggestions.

1. <small> inside heading.
   <h1>Heading <small>Sub-heading</small></h1>

2. Even <div> inside heading, possibly with a role. (less semantic than 
h1>small, but still better than h1+p)
   <h1>Heading <div>Sub-heading</div></h1>

Should we consider adding an ARIA role for "subheading"?

James


> On Mar 12, 2015, at 6:56 AM, Robin Berjon <robin@w3.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> it is the current practice in W3C specifications to use an <h2> element 
for a specification's subtitle (either the actual subtitle, or the "W3C 
$SPEC_STATUS $DATE" part.
> 
> It so happens that this is a practice which is frowned upon by the HTML 
specification:
> 
>    "h1–h6 elements must not be used to markup subheadings, subtitles,
>     alternative titles and taglines unless intended to be the heading
>     for a new section or subsection."
>    -- http://www.w3.org/TR/html5/common-idioms.html#sub-head

> 
> The suggested fix would be to transition to using a <p> element with a 
specific class. This is what HTML5 used to do (because it had special 
dispensation to break stuff) but that won't be possible with the new 
automatic publishing system. Also, it's nicer to follow our own 
suggestions in general.
> 
> If this is agreed upon, we'll have a transition period so that everyone 
has time to make this small change.
> 
> -- 
> Robin Berjon - http://berjon.com/ - @robinberjon
>