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I'm trying to create a recursive list using Thymeleaf. I'm using a simple Java object to model a node which has has two fields, a description and then an array list of child nodes. I'm using the following HTML/Thymeleaf to process the structure but it isn't recursively iterating through to the next level down.
My Java code looks as follows:
public class Node {
public String description;
public ArrayList<Node> children;
}
My Thymeleaf/HTML code is as follows:
<html>
...
<body>
<div th:fragment="fragment_node" th:remove="tag">
<ul th:if="${not #lists.isEmpty(node.children)}" >
<li th:each="child : ${node.children}"
th:text="${child.description}"
th:with="node = ${child}"
th:include="this::fragment_node">List Item</li>
</ul>
</div>
</body>
</html>
If my data structure looks as follows:
I'd expect to get:
<ul>
<li>Main Node 1</li>
<li>
<ul>
<li>Child node 1</li>
<li>Child node 2</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Main Node 2</li>
<li>
<ul>
<li>Child node 3</li>
<li>Child node 4</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
However, I only get:
<ul>
<li>Main Node 1</li>
<li>Main Node 2</li>
</ul>
Can anyone spot why this may not be working?
506
asked Jun 17 '26 09:06
The cause of the problem is
You are trying to th:text and trying to add the description to a <li> as well as you are trying to th:include the fragment inside the same tag <li>.
Your th:include is replaced by the th:text as th:text is processed with priority by default.
Direct solution to your source code
.....
<li th:each="child : ${node.children}" th:inline="text" th:with="node = ${child}">
[[${child.description}]]
<ul th:replace="this::fragment_node">List Item</ul>
</li>
.....
Even thought the above will work as you want, personally I find some design issues in your thymeleaf page.
Better solution using fragment parameters
...
<ul th:fragment="fragment_node(node)" th:unless="${#lists.isEmpty(node.children)}" >
<li th:each="child : ${node.children}" th:inline="text">
[[${child.description}]]
<ul th:replace="this::fragment_node(${child})"></ul>
</li>
</ul>
...
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