Goal
Ensure that every page has a relevant <title> so that the browser can identify to assistive technology (AT) the title of the page the user is currently on.
Why this matters
The page title allows all users to identify what page they’re on. It is the first thing a screen reader user will hear when a page loads. Unique titles allow users both with and without AT to differentiate between multiple tabs that are open on a browser. Titles help people with cognitive disabilities such as limited short-term memory, as well as those with reading disabilities, to identify the page’s purpose or goal.
Users with AT such as voice recognition software may rely on the page title to select the page in their browser or take other actions on the page.
How to implement
Writers
See Page Titles .
Developers
For the proper structure of a heading, see MDN’s site:
Note that:
- The
<title>must be present - The
<title>must be populated with text. - The
<title>must change if the web address OR the intention of the page change.
How to test
Manual testing
Option 1: read the page title in the browser tab and ensure it matches the Writer’s preferred page title.
Option 2: right-click the page and ensure that a <title> containing the Writer’s preferred page title is present in the <head> element.
Automated testing
HTML validators should report back an error if no <title> tag is present, or if multiple <title> tags are children of the <head> element. Note that automation cannot determine if the correct content is present.