The result of the following code

#1

$( $("ul.subsubmenu li a.active").parent() ).parent().children("li").children("a");

differs from

#2

$("ul.subsubmenu li a.active").parent().children("a");

In the case #2 it returns the same "a" element having class "active". The desired behavior (case #1) is to select all "a" elements from the list having an "a" element having class ".active".

Here is an example HTML code:

<ul>

<li><a href="xx.html">xxx</a></li>

<li><a href="zz.html">zz</a>

<ul class="subsubmenu">

<li><a href="cc.html">cc</a></li>

<li><a href="ccx.html">ccx</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li><a href="qqq.html">qqq</a></li>

<li><a href="eventy.html" class="active">fff</a>

<ul class="subsubmenu">

<li><a href="ll.html" class="active">ll/a></li>

<li><a href="bb.html">bb</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>