<hgroup>

<hgroup> groups one heading with secondary text such as a subtitle or tagline. Modern HTML permits one <h1>–<h6> heading with paragraphs before or after it. It is not a deprecated container for several heading ranks.

A heading and a subtitle

The subtitle is a paragraph because it does not introduce another section. Only the <h1> contributes a heading to the outline.

<hgroup>
  <h1>Small spaces, useful gardens</h1>
  <p>A practical guide to growing herbs on a balcony</p>
</hgroup>
<p>Start with containers that drain and a spot that receives enough light.</p>

hgroup p {
  color: #475569;
}

Content and accessibility

Use exactly one heading, with optional <p> elements around it and permitted script-supporting content. Do not use several headings solely to get different font sizes. The group does not create a new heading level or alter the heading’s rank.

Inspect the example’s heading navigation: there is one heading, while the subtitle remains readable text. A simple heading followed by a paragraph is also a valid way to present a subtitle when you do not need the grouping element.

Historical examples

Older material may show <hgroup><h1>…</h1><h2>…</h2></hgroup> or call the element obsolete. That is not the current content model. Use a section with a properly ranked heading for a real subsection.

Sources and browser support

MDN: hgroup describes the syntax and links to the specification and compatibility data. Check individual values in that table when supporting older browsers.