Pääotsake

Pääotsake is a term used in Estonian typography and publishing to denote the primary heading of a document or a major section. It is designed to give readers a quick sense of the topic and scope of the text and to orient them at the beginning of a page or section.

In typographic practice, the pääotsake is typically the most prominent heading on the page. It is usually larger, bolder, or otherwise visually distinct from other headings. It appears at the top of the page or section and is followed by secondary headings that break the content into more specific parts. Style guides emphasize clarity and conciseness for the main heading to improve skimmability.

In digital content, the main heading often corresponds to the h1 element in HTML. This usage supports search engines and assistive technologies in understanding the page’s core topic. Many guidelines advocate using a single main heading per page, with subheadings (for example, h2–h6) to structure information hierarchically and improve accessibility.

The concept of pääotsake is common across Estonian publishing, journalism, and academic writing. While exact formatting depends on the chosen design system or institutional style guide, the function remains the same: provide a clear, prominent, and informative entry point that summarizes the content of the page or section.

Related terms include alapealkiri (subheading) and pealkiri (title), which describe other levels of headings within the same document hierarchy.