In HTML, headings are used to define the importance and structure of content, making it easier to read and navigate. HTML offers six levels of headings, from <h1> to <h6>, where <h1> represents the highest or most important heading, and <h6> represents the lowest. Headings help both users and search engines understand the content hierarchy on a page. For example, <h1> is typically used for the main title or key subject, while <h2> to <h6> are used for subsections, subheadings, and smaller sections. Using appropriate heading tags also improves SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and accessibility.