Table of Contents Generator

A table of contents generator reads your headings and returns a ready-to-paste linked list plus the heading IDs it needs. A visible contents list improves usability and can earn jump links in search results.

It runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you paste or upload is sent to a server or stored.

How to read the result and act on it

The output is a linked list that mirrors your heading structure, plus IDs that each heading needs for the links to work. Check that the list reads like a clear summary of the article: if entries look vague or repeated, rewrite the headings instead of the list. Paste the contents block near the top of the article and make sure each heading in your HTML carries the matching ID. Test every link in a browser to confirm it jumps to the right place. For long pages the list helps readers and may produce jump links in search results, though that is never guaranteed. Update the list whenever you add, rename or reorder sections, so links do not break.

Common mistakes to avoid

A common mistake is pasting the list without adding the heading IDs, so every link does nothing. Another is including every H3 and H4 in a short article, which makes the list longer than the content. Avoid duplicate heading text, since it can generate identical IDs and send readers to the wrong section. Do not forget to change IDs and links together when renaming a heading. Watch out for sticky headers that hide the target heading after the jump; add scroll margin in CSS if needed. Also avoid treating a contents list as a ranking trick; its value is helping readers navigate the page.

Do tables of contents help SEO?

They improve navigation and can lead to jump links under a result, but they are not a ranking factor.

Where should the table of contents go?

Near the top, after the intro, so readers and crawlers see the page structure early.

How do I make jump links work in HTML?

Give the target heading an id attribute, such as id="pricing", and link to it with href="#pricing". The ID should be unique on the page, lowercase and free of spaces.

Should a table of contents be collapsible?

It can be, especially on long pages or mobile, as long as the links remain accessible and crawlable. Keep the default state clear so readers can see the sections at a glance.

• Heading Structure Checker: Paste HTML to check for a single H1, skipped levels, empty headings and duplicates.
• Page Headings Extractor: Fetch any URL and list its H1 to H6 headings in order, with a quick structure check.
• Content Brief Generator: Create a structured content brief with an outline, entities, questions and an answer-first intro.

Browse all 27 free content tools, or see the full free SEO toolbox. If you would rather have this handled for you, take a look at our content optimisation services and the results from real projects.