diff --git a/lib/web/doctree/meta/model_site.v b/lib/web/doctree/meta/model_site.v
index 90774afe..590c1125 100644
--- a/lib/web/doctree/meta/model_site.v
+++ b/lib/web/doctree/meta/model_site.v
@@ -29,18 +29,26 @@ pub fn (mut s Site) sidebar() SideBar {
 	mut uncategorized_pages := []Page{}
 
 	// Group pages by category
+	eprintln('DEBUG: Grouping ${s.pages.len} pages into categories')
 	for page in s.pages {
 		if page.category_id == 0 {
 			// Page at root level (no category)
 			uncategorized_pages << page
+			eprintln('  Page "${page.src}": UNCATEGORIZED')
 		} else {
 			// Page belongs to a category
 			if page.category_id !in category_pages {
 				category_pages[page.category_id] = []Page{}
 			}
 			category_pages[page.category_id] << page
+			if page.category_id < s.categories.len {
+				eprintln('  Page "${page.src}": category_id=${page.category_id} -> "${s.categories[page.category_id].path}"')
+			} else {
+				eprintln('  Page "${page.src}": category_id=${page.category_id} -> INVALID INDEX!')
+			}
 		}
 	}
+	eprintln('DEBUG: Grouped into ${category_pages.len} categories + ${uncategorized_pages.len} uncategorized')
 
 	// Sort pages within each category by their order in the pages array
 	for category_id in category_pages.keys() {
@@ -54,62 +62,111 @@ pub fn (mut s Site) sidebar() SideBar {
 	// Build nested category structure from path
 	// ============================================================
 	mut category_tree := map[string]&NavCat{}
+	mut parent_map := map[string]string{} // Map of path -> parent_path
 
-	// PASS 1: Create all category nodes (even empty intermediate ones)
+	// PASS 1: Create ALL category nodes first
+	// Collect all paths first, then sort by depth (shallow first)
+	mut all_paths := []string{}
 	for i, category in s.categories {
-		category_id := i + 1 // categories are 1-indexed
-
-		// Split path into parts (e.g., "Getting Started/Advanced/Deep" -> ["Getting Started", "Advanced", "Deep"])
 		path_parts := if category.path.contains('/') {
 			category.path.split('/')
 		} else {
 			[category.path]
 		}
 
-		// Create all nodes in the path hierarchy
 		mut current_path := ''
-
 		for part_idx, part in path_parts {
 			if current_path.len > 0 {
 				current_path += '/'
 			}
 			current_path += part
 
-			// Check if this node already exists
+			// Add this path if not already added
 			if current_path !in category_tree {
-				// Create new category node
-				mut new_cat := &NavCat{
-					label:       part
-					collapsible: category.collapsible
-					collapsed:   category.collapsed
-					items:       []NavItem{}
-				}
-				category_tree[current_path] = new_cat
-
-				// If this is not the root of the path, add it to its parent
-				if part_idx > 0 {
-					parent_path := path_parts[0..part_idx].join('/')
-					if parent_path in category_tree {
-						mut parent_cat := category_tree[parent_path]
-						parent_cat.items << new_cat
-					}
-				}
+				all_paths << current_path
 			}
 		}
 	}
 
-	// PASS 2: Add pages to their designated categories
+	// Sort paths by depth (number of '/') so we create parents before children
+	all_paths.sort(a.count('/') < b.count('/'))
+
+	// Now create all nodes in order of depth
+	for path in all_paths {
+		if path !in category_tree {
+			path_parts := path.split('/')
+			part := path_parts[path_parts.len - 1]
+
+			// Find the category with this path to get collapsible/collapsed settings
+			mut collapsible := true
+			mut collapsed := false
+			for category in s.categories {
+				if category.path == path {
+					collapsible = category.collapsible
+					collapsed = category.collapsed
+					break
+				}
+			}
+
+			// Create new category node
+			mut new_cat := &NavCat{
+				label:       part
+				collapsible: collapsible
+				collapsed:   collapsed
+				items:       []NavItem{}
+			}
+			category_tree[path] = new_cat
+
+			// Record parent for later linking
+			if path.contains('/') {
+				last_slash := path.last_index('/') or { 0 }
+				parent_path := path[0..last_slash]
+				parent_map[path] = parent_path
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	// PASS 2: Link all parent-child relationships
+	// Process these in order of depth to ensure parents are linked first
+	mut sorted_paths := parent_map.keys()
+	sorted_paths.sort(a.count('/') < b.count('/'))
+
+	for path in sorted_paths {
+		parent_path := parent_map[path]
+		if parent_path in category_tree && path in category_tree {
+			mut parent_cat := category_tree[parent_path]
+			child_cat := category_tree[path]
+
+			// Only add if not already added
+			mut already_added := false
+			for item in parent_cat.items {
+				if item is NavCat && item.label == child_cat.label {
+					already_added = true
+					break
+				}
+			}
+			if !already_added {
+				parent_cat.items << child_cat
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	// PASS 3: Add pages to their designated categories
+	eprintln('DEBUG PASS 3: Adding pages to categories')
 	for i, category in s.categories {
-		category_id := i + 1 // categories are 1-indexed
+		category_id := i // categories are 0-indexed in the page assignment
 
 		// Skip if no pages in this category
 		if category_id !in category_pages {
+			eprintln('  Category ${category_id} ("${category.path}"): no pages')
 			continue
 		}
 
 		// Build the full path for this category
 		full_path := category.path
 
+		eprintln('  Category ${category_id} ("${full_path}"): ${category_pages[category_id].len} pages')
+
 		// Add pages to this category
 		if full_path in category_tree {
 			mut leaf_cat := category_tree[full_path]
@@ -118,6 +175,8 @@ pub fn (mut s Site) sidebar() SideBar {
 					// Convert page src format "collection:name" to path "collection/name"
 					path := page.src.replace(':', '/')
 
+					eprintln('    Adding page: ${page.src} -> ${path}')
+
 					nav_doc := NavDoc{
 						path:  path
 						label: if page.label.len > 0 { page.label } else { page.title }
@@ -125,13 +184,15 @@ pub fn (mut s Site) sidebar() SideBar {
 					leaf_cat.items << nav_doc
 				}
 			}
+		} else {
+			eprintln('    ERROR: Category path "${full_path}" not in category_tree!')
 		}
 	}
 
 	// ============================================================
-	// PASS 3: Add root-level categories to sidebar
+	// PASS 4: Add root-level categories to sidebar
 	// ============================================================
-	// Find all root-level categories (those without '/')
+	// Find all root-level categories (those without '/') and add them once
 	mut added_roots := map[string]bool{}
 
 	for i, category in s.categories {
@@ -149,7 +210,7 @@ pub fn (mut s Site) sidebar() SideBar {
 	}
 
 	// ============================================================
-	// PASS 4: Add uncategorized pages at root level
+	// PASS 5: Add uncategorized pages at root level
 	// ============================================================
 	for page in uncategorized_pages {
 		if !page.hide {
@@ -165,7 +226,7 @@ pub fn (mut s Site) sidebar() SideBar {
 	}
 
 	// ============================================================
-	// PASS 5: Add standalone links (if needed)
+	// PASS 6: Add standalone links (if needed)
 	// ============================================================
 	for link in s.links {
 		nav_link := NavLink{
diff --git a/lib/web/doctree/meta/site_nav_test.v b/lib/web/doctree/meta/site_nav_test.v
index 4af04fb7..26ec4c4b 100644
--- a/lib/web/doctree/meta/site_nav_test.v
+++ b/lib/web/doctree/meta/site_nav_test.v
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ const test_heroscript_nav_depth = '
     collapsible: true
     collapsed: false
 
-!!site.page src: "why:intro"
+//COLLECTION WILL BE REPEATED, HAS NO INFLUENCE ON NAVIGATION LEVELS
+!!site.page src: "mycollection:intro"
     label: "Why Choose Us"
     title: "Why Choose Us"
     description: "Reasons to use this platform"
@@ -38,14 +39,14 @@ const test_heroscript_nav_depth = '
     description: "Main benefits overview"
 
 // ============================================================
-// LEVEL 2: Two-level nested category
+// LEVEL 1: Simple top-level category
 // ============================================================
 !!site.page_category
     path: "Tutorials"
     collapsible: true
     collapsed: false
 
-!!site.page src: "tutorials:getting_started"
+!!site.page src: "getting_started"
     label: "Getting Started"
     title: "Getting Started"
     description: "Basic tutorial to get started"
@@ -63,7 +64,7 @@ const test_heroscript_nav_depth = '
     collapsible: true
     collapsed: false
 
-!!site.page src: "operations:emergency_restart"
+!!site.page src: "emergency_restart"
     label: "Emergency Restart"
     title: "Emergency Restart"
     description: "How to emergency restart the system"
@@ -79,14 +80,14 @@ const test_heroscript_nav_depth = '
     description: "Handle incidents in real-time"
 
 // ============================================================
-// LEVEL 2.5: Two-level nested category (Tutorials > Operations)
+// LEVEL 2: Two-level nested category (Tutorials > Operations)
 // ============================================================
 !!site.page_category
     path: "Tutorials/Operations"
     collapsible: true
     collapsed: false
 
-!!site.page src: "ops:daily_checks"
+!!site.page src: "daily_checks"
     label: "Daily Checks"
     title: "Daily Checks"
     description: "Daily maintenance checklist"
@@ -102,7 +103,7 @@ const test_heroscript_nav_depth = '
     description: "Backup and restore procedures"
 
 // ============================================================
-// LEVEL 1.5: One-to-two level (Tutorials)
+// LEVEL 1: One-to-two level (Tutorials)
 // ============================================================
 // Note: This creates a sibling at the Tutorials level (not nested deeper)
 !!site.page src: "advanced_concepts"
@@ -123,7 +124,7 @@ const test_heroscript_nav_depth = '
     collapsible: true
     collapsed: false
 
-!!site.page src: "faq:general"
+!!site.page src: "general"
     label: "General Questions"
     title: "General Questions"
     description: "Frequently asked questions"
@@ -144,14 +145,14 @@ const test_heroscript_nav_depth = '
     description: "Support-related FAQ"
 
 // ============================================================
-// LEVEL 3+: Even deeper nesting for comprehensive testing
+// LEVEL 4: Four-level nested category (Tutorials > Operations > Database > Optimization)
 // ============================================================
 !!site.page_category
     path: "Tutorials/Operations/Database/Optimization"
     collapsible: true
     collapsed: false
 
-!!site.page src: "database:query_optimization"
+!!site.page src: "query_optimization"
     label: "Query Optimization"
     title: "Query Optimization"
     description: "Optimize your database queries"
@@ -166,7 +167,7 @@ const test_heroscript_nav_depth = '
     collapsible: true
     collapsed: false
 
-!!site.page src: "db:configuration"
+!!site.page src: "configuration"
     label: "Configuration"
     title: "Database Configuration"
     description: "Configure your database"
@@ -178,6 +179,289 @@ const test_heroscript_nav_depth = '
 
 '
 
+fn check(s2 Site) {
+	mut s := Site{
+		doctree_path:   ''
+		config:         SiteConfig{
+			name:        'nav_depth_test'
+			title:       'Navigation Depth Test Site'
+			description: 'Testing multi-level nested navigation'
+			tagline:     'Deep navigation structures'
+			favicon:     'img/favicon.png'
+			image:       'img/tf_graph.png'
+			copyright:   '© 2025 Example Organization'
+			footer:      Footer{
+				style: 'dark'
+				links: []
+			}
+			menu:        Menu{
+				title:         'Nav Depth Test'
+				items:         [
+					MenuItem{
+						href:     ''
+						to:       '/'
+						label:    'Home'
+						position: 'left'
+					},
+				]
+				logo_alt:      ''
+				logo_src:      ''
+				logo_src_dark: ''
+			}
+			url:         ''
+			base_url:    '/'
+			url_home:    ''
+			meta_title:  ''
+			meta_image:  ''
+		}
+		pages:          [
+			Page{
+				src:         'mycollection:intro'
+				label:       'Why Choose Us'
+				title:       'Why Choose Us'
+				description: 'Reasons to use this platform'
+				draft:       false
+				hide_title:  false
+				hide:        false
+				category_id: 0
+			},
+			Page{
+				src:         'mycollection:benefits'
+				label:       'Key Benefits'
+				title:       'Key Benefits'
+				description: 'Main benefits overview'
+				draft:       false
+				hide_title:  false
+				hide:        false
+				category_id: 0
+			},
+			Page{
+				src:         'mycollection:getting_started'
+				label:       'Getting Started'
+				title:       'Getting Started'
+				description: 'Basic tutorial to get started'
+				draft:       false
+				hide_title:  false
+				hide:        false
+				category_id: 1
+			},
+			Page{
+				src:         'mycollection:first_steps'
+				label:       'First Steps'
+				title:       'First Steps'
+				description: 'Your first steps with the platform'
+				draft:       false
+				hide_title:  false
+				hide:        false
+				category_id: 1
+			},
+			Page{
+				src:         'mycollection:emergency_restart'
+				label:       'Emergency Restart'
+				title:       'Emergency Restart'
+				description: 'How to emergency restart the system'
+				draft:       false
+				hide_title:  false
+				hide:        false
+				category_id: 2
+			},
+			Page{
+				src:         'mycollection:critical_fixes'
+				label:       'Critical Fixes'
+				title:       'Critical Fixes'
+				description: 'Apply critical fixes immediately'
+				draft:       false
+				hide_title:  false
+				hide:        false
+				category_id: 2
+			},
+			Page{
+				src:         'mycollection:incident_response'
+				label:       'Incident Response'
+				title:       'Incident Response'
+				description: 'Handle incidents in real-time'
+				draft:       false
+				hide_title:  false
+				hide:        false
+				category_id: 2
+			},
+			Page{
+				src:         'mycollection:daily_checks'
+				label:       'Daily Checks'
+				title:       'Daily Checks'
+				description: 'Daily maintenance checklist'
+				draft:       false
+				hide_title:  false
+				hide:        false
+				category_id: 3
+			},
+			Page{
+				src:         'mycollection:monitoring'
+				label:       'Monitoring'
+				title:       'Monitoring'
+				description: 'System monitoring procedures'
+				draft:       false
+				hide_title:  false
+				hide:        false
+				category_id: 3
+			},
+			Page{
+				src:         'mycollection:backups'
+				label:       'Backups'
+				title:       'Backups'
+				description: 'Backup and restore procedures'
+				draft:       false
+				hide_title:  false
+				hide:        false
+				category_id: 3
+			},
+			Page{
+				src:         'mycollection:advanced_concepts'
+				label:       'Advanced Concepts'
+				title:       'Advanced Concepts'
+				description: 'Deep dive into advanced concepts'
+				draft:       false
+				hide_title:  false
+				hide:        false
+				category_id: 3
+			},
+			Page{
+				src:         'mycollection:troubleshooting'
+				label:       'Troubleshooting'
+				title:       'Troubleshooting'
+				description: 'Troubleshooting guide'
+				draft:       false
+				hide_title:  false
+				hide:        false
+				category_id: 3
+			},
+			Page{
+				src:         'mycollection:general'
+				label:       'General Questions'
+				title:       'General Questions'
+				description: 'Frequently asked questions'
+				draft:       false
+				hide_title:  false
+				hide:        false
+				category_id: 4
+			},
+			Page{
+				src:         'mycollection:pricing_questions'
+				label:       'Pricing'
+				title:       'Pricing Questions'
+				description: 'Questions about pricing'
+				draft:       false
+				hide_title:  false
+				hide:        false
+				category_id: 4
+			},
+			Page{
+				src:         'mycollection:technical_faq'
+				label:       'Technical FAQ'
+				title:       'Technical FAQ'
+				description: 'Technical frequently asked questions'
+				draft:       false
+				hide_title:  false
+				hide:        false
+				category_id: 4
+			},
+			Page{
+				src:         'mycollection:support_faq'
+				label:       'Support'
+				title:       'Support FAQ'
+				description: 'Support-related FAQ'
+				draft:       false
+				hide_title:  false
+				hide:        false
+				category_id: 4
+			},
+			Page{
+				src:         'mycollection:query_optimization'
+				label:       'Query Optimization'
+				title:       'Query Optimization'
+				description: 'Optimize your database queries'
+				draft:       false
+				hide_title:  false
+				hide:        false
+				category_id: 5
+			},
+			Page{
+				src:         'mycollection:indexing_strategy'
+				label:       'Indexing Strategy'
+				title:       'Indexing Strategy'
+				description: 'Effective indexing strategies'
+				draft:       false
+				hide_title:  false
+				hide:        false
+				category_id: 5
+			},
+			Page{
+				src:         'mycollection:configuration'
+				label:       'Configuration'
+				title:       'Database Configuration'
+				description: 'Configure your database'
+				draft:       false
+				hide_title:  false
+				hide:        false
+				category_id: 6
+			},
+			Page{
+				src:         'mycollection:replication'
+				label:       'Replication'
+				title:       'Database Replication'
+				description: 'Set up database replication'
+				draft:       false
+				hide_title:  false
+				hide:        false
+				category_id: 6
+			},
+		]
+		links:          []
+		categories:     [
+			Category{
+				path:        'Why'
+				collapsible: true
+				collapsed:   false
+			},
+			Category{
+				path:        'Tutorials'
+				collapsible: true
+				collapsed:   false
+			},
+			Category{
+				path:        'Tutorials/Operations/Urgent'
+				collapsible: true
+				collapsed:   false
+			},
+			Category{
+				path:        'Tutorials/Operations'
+				collapsible: true
+				collapsed:   false
+			},
+			Category{
+				path:        'Why/FAQ'
+				collapsible: true
+				collapsed:   false
+			},
+			Category{
+				path:        'Tutorials/Operations/Database/Optimization'
+				collapsible: true
+				collapsed:   false
+			},
+			Category{
+				path:        'Tutorials/Operations/Database'
+				collapsible: true
+				collapsed:   false
+			},
+		]
+		announcements:  []
+		imports:        []
+		build_dest:     []
+		build_dest_dev: []
+	}
+	assert s == s2
+}
+
 pub fn test_navigation_depth() ! {
 	console.print_header('🧭 Navigation Depth Multi-Level Test')
 	console.lf()
@@ -200,6 +484,8 @@ pub fn test_navigation_depth() ! {
 	console.print_green('✓ Site retrieved')
 	console.lf()
 
+	check(nav_site)
+
 	// ========================================================
 	// TEST 1: Validate Categories Structure
 	// ========================================================