Issue with Switching and Adding Classes to Elements on Mouse Click

Hey there—this is something I’ve struggled with too. What worked for me was to keep two simple handlers: one for clicks on the top‐level and one for clicks on the submenu links. That way you never end up nesting or duplicating logic.

<ul>
  <li class="submenu">
    <a href="javascript:void(0);">
      <i class="ti ti-layout-dashboard"></i>
      <span>Admin Profile</span>
      <span class="menu-arrow"></span>
    </a>
    <ul>
      <li><a href="<?php echo base_url('admin_dashboard'); ?>">Dashboard</a></li>
      <li><a href="<?php echo base_url('admin_profile'); ?>">Profile</a></li>
      <li><a href="#">Settings</a></li>
      <li><a href="#">Contacts</a></li>
    </ul>
  </li>
  <!-- repeat for other .submenu items -->
</ul>

$(function(){
  // clicking the main menu title
  $(document).on('click', '.submenu > a', function(e){
    e.preventDefault();
    var $toggle  = $(this);
    var $parent  = $toggle.closest('.submenu');
    var $inner   = $toggle.next('ul');

    // close any other open submenu
    $('.submenu').not($parent).each(function(){
      $(this).children('a').removeClass('subdrop active');
      $(this).children('ul').slideUp(150);
    });

    // toggle the one we clicked
    $toggle.toggleClass('subdrop active');
    $inner.slideToggle(150);

    // if opening, give its first child link the active state
    if ($toggle.hasClass('active')) {
      $inner.find('a').removeClass('active');
      $inner.find('li:first > a').addClass('active');
    }
  });

  // clicking any child link
  $(document).on('click', '.submenu ul li a', function(e){
    e.preventDefault();
    var $link    = $(this);
    var $parent  = $link.closest('.submenu');
    var $toggle  = $parent.children('a');

    // clear all other child‐link highlights, then highlight this one
    $('.submenu ul li a').removeClass('active');
    $link.addClass('active');

    // make sure this submenu is open
    $('.submenu > a').not($toggle)
      .removeClass('subdrop active')
      .next('ul').slideUp(150);

    $toggle.addClass('subdrop active');
    $toggle.next('ul').slideDown(150);
  });
});

When you click the top‐level link, it first slams shut any other submenu, then toggles itself open/closed. Opening it also auto-selects the very first child item. Clicking a child link simply highlights that link, ensures its parent is open, and closes any other menus.