[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #61081: Change <h1> Tags in TinyMCE Link Modal to <span> or Lesser Header Tags to Prevent Potential SEO Issues

[WordPress Trac]

#61081: Change <h1> Tags in TinyMCE Link Modal to <span> or Lesser Header Tags to
Prevent Potential SEO Issues
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 Reporter:  bohdansmaha    |      Owner:  (none)
     Type:  enhancement    |     Status:  new
 Priority:  normal         |  Milestone:  Awaiting Review
Component:  TinyMCE        |    Version:
 Severity:  normal         |   Keywords:
  Focuses:  accessibility  |
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 == Description:
 In the current implementation of the TinyMCE editor used within WordPress,
 the link modal (which appears when users click to insert/edit links) is
 titled using an <h1> tag. This is semantically inappropriate for a modal
 header and could potentially lead to SEO issues, particularly through the
 generation of multiple <h1> tags on pages where the editor is used
 multiple times or alongside other content that correctly uses <h1> tags.

 == Existing Code Example:
 {{{
 <h1 id="link-modal-title">Insert/edit link</h1>
 }}}

 == Problem:
 Automated SEO tools and accessibility checks often flag pages with
 multiple <h1> tags as having potential structure issues, which can mislead
 users about the importance and hierarchy of content. Since <h1> tags are
 typically reserved for primary page titles, their use in a modal for
 editing links can be seen as overemphasizing the importance of the modal's
 content.

 == Suggested Solution:
 It would be more appropriate to use either <span> tags or a lesser header
 tag such as <h2>, <h3>, etc., for the headers within these modals. This
 change would prevent the TinyMCE link modal from inadvertently affecting
 the semantic structure of the page and improve compatibility with SEO best
 practices and accessibility guidelines.

 == Benefits:
 * **SEO Compliance:** Reduces the risk of SEO penalties from search
 engines that expect a single <h1> per page or semantic clarity in content
 hierarchy.
 * **Accessibility:** Improves content accessibility by maintaining a clear
 and logical hierarchy in document structure, as modal titles do not
 typically constitute a top-level heading on a page.
 * **Editor Consistency:** Aligns the use of header tags within WordPress
 admin tools with best web practices, reinforcing WordPress's commitment to
 producing semantically correct and accessible content.

 I suggest modifying the TinyMCE initialization or configuration files
 where these modal titles are defined to change the tag from <h1> to a
 <span> or an appropriate heading level that reflects the modal's purpose
 without conflicting with the primary page content.

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Ticket URL: <https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/61081>
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