Semantically, which is more correct: a in h2, or h2 in a?

html standards semantics
Only Bolivian Here picture Only Bolivian Here · Mar 18, 2012 · Viewed 32.1k times · Source

I'm stuck deciding which to use as both seem to work.

Should I be placing links <a> inside of <h2> elements?

Or the other way around?

What is the correct standard?

Answer

BoltClock picture BoltClock · Mar 18, 2012

You can only place <h2> elements within <a> elements if you're working with HTML5, which allows any other elements within <a> elements. Previous specifications (or current ones however you want to look at them) never allowed this.

The usual way of doing this is to place <a> within <h2>. This works, has always worked, and has been the only valid way to do it before HTML5, for heading links, as the link refers to the text in that heading. You rarely need to place <h2> within <a> unless that <h2> is part of some more complex structure which functions as a hyperlink as a whole.

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