A: Documents must have < title> element to aid in navigation (WCAG 2.4.2)
document-title
Ensure that every HTML document has a non-empty <title> element.
This means
Every page needs a meaningful, non-empty page title within the <title> inside <head>. The title concisely describes the purpose and content of the current page and differs from other pages.
Impact
Without a clear title, users and screen reader users lack quick orientation. Tabs, bookmarks, and history lists are hard to overview. This complicates navigation, increases drop-offs, and violates WCAG.
Recommendation
-
Set a meaningful title: short, clear, page-related.
-
Convention: “Page topic – Website Name” or “Page topic | Website Name”.
-
Unique per page, no generic titles like “Homepage” or “Untitled”.
-
Update for dynamic views and in Single Page Applications.
-
Choose language consistent with the page language.
Example
Problematic
<!doctype html>
<html lang="de">
<head>
<!-- no title or empty title -->
<title></title>
</head>
<body>...</body>
</html>
Better
<!doctype html> <html lang="de"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <title>Complete Donation – Example Association</title> </head> <body>...</body> </html>
SPA update
// call after route change
document.title = 'Review Cart – Example Shop';
Related WCAG criterion:
WCAG 2.4.2 - Page Titled