h4

h4 is an HTML element used to define the fourth-level heading in a document. It is part of the heading elements h1 through h6, which provide a hierarchical structure for content. An h4 is typically used to introduce subsections that fall under an h3 heading and may themselves contain further subheadings such as h5 and h6.

By default, browsers render h4 as bold text with a font size smaller than h1 through h3 and larger than h5 and h6. The exact appearance depends on the user agent and any CSS that applies. Headings can be styled with CSS, but they should retain their semantic meaning to preserve document structure for assistive technologies.

The heading elements contribute to a page’s accessibility by enabling assistive technologies to construct a navigable outline. Use h4 only to mark a distinct subsection under the appropriate higher-level headings, and maintain a logical sequence (for example, avoid skipping from h3 to h5). In HTML5, sectioning elements such as section, article, nav, and aside help define the document outline, and headings like h4 should reflect this structure rather than serve as purely presentational hooks.

Usage tips include not using h4 solely for styling; rely on semantic structure first and apply CSS for appearance. When writing content, place meaningful, descriptive text inside h4 elements to improve readability and navigation for all users. A typical example in markup is a heading such as a heading level four titled “Subsection Title.”