loop through multidimensional UL to generate javascript array

Question

In short I want to convert a UL list to a javascript/jquery array. My issue is that the UL can be of any length and depth of nesting.

here is a sample UL:

I have a basic each loop in jquery that only goes through the first nested. I need it to keep going through any li that has children and the array generated to match the nesting format:

var arr = [];
    $("#main > ul > li").each(function() {
        var elem = {
            brand: $(this).find(">span:first").text(),
            children: []
        };
        $(this).find(">ul>li").each(function() {
             elem.children.push($(this).find('span:first').text());
        });
        arr.push(elem);
    });
console.log(arr);

Here is what it outputs:

Any help would be gratefully received. I get the feeling I just need some sort of function that keeps on looping down a li's until it comes back false to having any child ul/li.

KL_ · Accepted Answer

The best way to achieve what you want is through recursion:

var list = [];
$("#main > ul > li").each(function() {
    list.push(buildObject($(this)));
});

function buildObject(parent){
  var obj = {
    brand: parent.find(">span:first").text(),
    children: [],
  }
  parent.find(">ul>li").each(function() {
     obj.children.push(buildObject($(this)));
  });
  return obj;
}

console.log(list);

loop through multidimensional UL to generate javascript array

Answers (1)

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