---
title: "Numbered headings"
source: https://dev.pageseeder.com/reference/glossary/numbered_headings.html
description: "Numbered headings are PSML heading elements that automatically generate sequential numbers when published. Marked with the `@numbered` attribute, their values depend on document structure and transcluded content."
last_updated: 2026-08-11T16:36:49+10:00
tokens: ~216
---

# Numbered headings

A numbered heading is a `<heading>` element in [PSML](psml.md) which is preceded by an automatically generated number when published.

## User Interface

In the user interface, a numbered heading appears with one or more x's separated by dots so that the user knows that a number is to precede the heading. The number of x's varies depending on the heading level.

## Source data

In PSML, a numbered heading is marked up using the `@numbered` attribute.

For example, in PSML, a numbered heading level 1 is marked up as:

```xml

<heading level="1" numbered="true">My Chapter</heading>
```

## Published data and processing

Because the numbering depends on other titles in the same [document](document.md), or other documents if the content is [transcluded](transclusion.md), it is only resolved when the document is published or processed.