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Hierarchy

Hierarchy refers to a document’s structural organization and the connections between its textual components. A heading placed above a text block gives it context and meaning while establishing a clear order of importance.

Three levels of type in blue Solomon Sans, each flagged by a pink vertical bar that shrinks with the text: the large word “Hierarchy”, the smaller line “Order of importance” and a two-line paragraph explaining that a heading above a block of text gives it context and sets the reading order — demonstrating typographic hierarchy.

The concept of hierarchy encompasses the structural organization of a document and the strategic connections established among its various textual components. When a heading is positioned directly over a block of text, it provides vital context and meaning for that subsequent passage while establishing a clear order of importance for the document as a whole. This organization is further refined through the use of tiered heading levels, such as the digital progression from primary to secondary and tertiary tags, which clearly maps out the relationships within different sections of a layout. In the practice of typography, the primary objective is to visually reinforce this underlying structure, utilizing specific stylistic adjustments to ensure that the inherent importance and role of every textual element are instantly clear and easy for the reader to comprehend.

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About the author
Iveta Stoyanova

Iveta is the Social Media & Community Manager at Fontfabric. With a background in Rhetoric & Speech Communication, she writes about the human side of typography, the inspiration behind new typefaces, choosing the right font for your project, and font licensing.