What does “page sections with the same name do not serve the same purpose” mean?

Summary

This rule flags potential issues where page sections share the same name but may serve different purposes, requiring review to ensure navigational clarity for assistive technology users.

Overview

When multiple page regions use identical names, it can create confusion for users navigating with assistive technologies. This FAQ explains what the rule means and how to evaluate whether section names need to be updated.

Applies to (Environment)

• Product / Feature: Siteimprove Accessibility (Quality Assurance)
• Version / Platform: All supported versions; Web-based platform
• User Role: Content editors, web developers, accessibility specialists
• Geographic / Language Considerations: Not language-specific; applies globally across all sites using HTML landmarks

Question

What does the accessibility rule “Page sections with the same name do not serve the same purpose” mean?

Answer

This rule highlights potential accessibility issues. Review sections with identical names and confirm whether they serve the same purpose; if they serve different functions, update the section names to make each purpose unique.