As the SEO coach, I’m here to simplify the complex world of search engines, including how they think. When you ask if <h2> or <h3> tags are better for AI systems, you’re asking the wrong question. They aren’t a competition; they’re a team. You need to use them together to create a clear, logical structure that both search engines and users love.
Understanding the Heading Tag Hierarchy
Neither H2 nor H3 tags are inherently “better” for AIO/LLM search answers. The effectiveness of these tags for AI systems depends entirely on their correct hierarchical use. AI models, like humans, understand context and structure. A proper heading hierarchy provides a roadmap of your content, making it easier for AI to comprehend and extract specific information.
- H1 is for the main title of the page, defining the overarching topic. You should only have one H1 tag per page.
- H2 tags are for the primary sub-topics or major sections of your article. They act like chapters in a book.
- H3 tags are for sub-points that fall under an H2. They are used to break down a major section into more specific details.
Using this logical taxonomy structure helps AI models segment and understand your content. For example, if a user asks a specific question, the AI can scan your H2 and H3 tags to quickly locate the most relevant section, improving the quality and accuracy of its answer.
Mastering the Website Hierarchy
Think of your page as a book. The <h1> tag is your book title. It sets the main topic for the entire page. Now, your <h2> tags are your chapters. You use them to break down the main topic into its key sub-topics. For example, if your <h1> is “The Ultimate Guide to On-Page SEO,” an <h2> might be “Understanding Keyword Research.”
Your <h3> tags are the sub-sections within those chapters. They provide specific details under your <h2>. Continuing our example, an <h3> could be “How to Use Long-Tail Keywords” or “Why Keyword Density Still Matters.”
This simple hierarchy provides a roadmap for both human readers and AI crawlers. You are telling them exactly what your content is about and where they can find specific information.
Why Hierarchy Matters for AI
Modern AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) are incredibly sophisticated. They don’t just read your content; they understand its structure to synthesize information. They rely on the context that a logical heading hierarchy provides.
- Contextual Understanding: When you place an
<h3>about “301 redirects” under an<h2>about “common 404 errors,” you’re providing crucial context. An AI can immediately understand the relationship between the two and how a redirect is a solution for that specific error. - Efficient Information Retrieval: AI-powered search systems are built to deliver direct, succinct answers. Your clear heading structure allows them to scan the page, pinpoint the most relevant
<h2>or<h3>, and extract the exact information a user is looking for, without having to process the entire document. - Content Segmentation: A logical hierarchy helps you avoid “walls of text.” Breaking up content with headings makes it more digestible for both users and AI, signaling a shift in topic and improving overall readability.
By using <h2> and <h3> tags correctly, you’re not just doing good SEO; you’re speaking the language of AI, making your content more discoverable and useful in the new age of search.
