Create a nested UL menu based on the URL path structure of menu items

Question

I have an array of menu items, each containing Name and URL like this:

var menuItems = [  
    {  
        name : \"Store\",  
        url : \"/store\"  
          


        

Answer 1

I think the best solution is firstly to convert your data structure to a tree one, with parent/children relations. Render this structure will then be easier, as the UL itself has a tree structure.

You can convert menuItems using these couple of functions

// Add an item node in the tree, at the right position
function addToTree( node, treeNodes ) {

    // Check if the item node should inserted in a subnode
    for ( var i=0; i

The resulting menuItemsTree will be an object like this

[
  {
    "name":"Store",
    "url":"/store",
    "children":[
      {
        "name":"Travel",
        "url":"/store/travel",
        "children":[

        ]
      },
      {
        "name":"Gardening",
        "url":"/store/gardening",
        "children":[

        ]
      },
      {
        "name":"Healthy Eating",
        "url":"/store/healthy-eating",
        "children":[
          {
            "name":"Cook Books",
            "url":"/store/healthy-eating/cook-books",
            "children":[

            ]
          },
          {
            "name":"Single Meal Gifts",
            "url":"/store/healthy-eating/single-meal-gifts",
            "children":[

            ]
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "name":"Outdoor Recreation",
        "url":"/store/outdoor-recreation",
        "children":[
          {
            "name":"Hiking",
            "url":"/store/outdoor-recreation/hiking",
            "children":[
              {
                "name":"Snowshoeing",
                "url":"/store/outdoor-recreation/hiking/snowshoeing",
                "children":[

                ]
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "name":"Skiing",
            "url":"/store/outdoor-recreation/skiing",
            "children":[

            ]
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "name":"Physical Fitness",
        "url":"/store/physical-fitness",
        "children":[

        ]
      },
      {
        "name":"Provident Living",
        "url":"/store/provident-living",
        "children":[

        ]
      }
    ]
  }
]

You mentioned you already have html renderer for trees, right? If you need further help let us know!