2.4.2 Page Titled
Every web page needs a title that describes its topic or purpose.
Level APrinciple 2: Operable
What does it mean?
The page title (the title element in the head) is shown in the browser tab, in bookmarks and in search results. It is also the first thing a screen reader announces when a page loads. A good title tells people where they are before they read anything else.
The title must describe the page’s topic or purpose. Titles that are identical on every page, or that only say the company name, do not do this. A common pattern is "Page topic – Site name". In single-page applications, the title must be updated when the view changes.
Who does it help?
- Screen reader users, who hear the title first
- People with cognitive disabilities or memory loss who need to orient themselves
- Anyone with many tabs open who needs to find the right one
Common failures
- The same title on every page, for example only the company name
- Placeholder titles such as "Untitled", "Home" on every page or "New page"
- A single-page application whose title never changes when the user moves between views
- An empty or missing title element
How we test it
- axe-core Automatic: axe-core finds typical violations. A violation is pre-filled as “fails”.
- evidence Evidence: our scanner collects material such as screenshots, lists and measurements.
Test question: Does every page title describe its topic and differ between pages (see list)?
A person decides every criterion. No criterion ever passes automatically.
How to fix it
<title>Example Ltd</title><title>Opening hours and directions – Example Ltd</title>The title now names the page topic first, then the site, so it is unique and understandable on its own.
Practical tips
- Put the specific part first; in narrow browser tabs only the first words are visible.
- For form steps or error states, reflect them in the title (for example "Error: Contact form – Example Ltd").
Guides and patterns on this
- Getting there without a mouseMany people use the web without a mouse: with a keyboard, switches, voice control or a screen reader. Here is what has to work for them and how to manage focus properly in modern web apps.
- Your first screen reader test in 30 minutesA screen reader shows without mercy whether your page is built properly. This guide lets you test your key pages yourself, with free tools and no prior experience.
Official source
How does your website do on this criterion?
The free check tests your home page automatically; the audit decides all 55 criteria.