How can I bypass Webflow's limitation for nested collection lists in static single pages and use unlimited nested collections with more than 5 items using a lightweight jQuery with no performance issues?

Webflow limits nested collection lists to one level and a maximum of 5 items per nested collection. You can bypass this using CMS Reference fields and lightweight jQuery to dynamically populate content client-side without affecting performance.

1. Use Multi-Reference Fields Instead of Nested Collections

• Create a Multi-Reference field in your CMS (e.g., Blog Post references “Tags”).
• In the static page, pull in the main CMS Collection (e.g., Blog Posts) as a Collection List.
• You won't nest another Collection List directly — that’s what Webflow restricts.

2. Add Hidden JSON Data Attributes for Each Parent Item

• Inside each item of the parent Collection List, include a custom data attribute to store child reference IDs or relevant keys (e.g., data-tags="tag1,tag2,tag3").
• You can also pull full child data into a hidden <div> for retrieval (e.g., name, slug, image URL).

3. Use jQuery to Inject Child Items Dynamically

• Add a jQuery script in the Page Settings > Footer custom code area or Embed block after all elements.
• On document ready, the script should:
• Loop through parent items in the DOM.
• Parse the hidden data (IDs or values).
• Generate HTML (e.g., cards, list elements) and append it to a designated wrapper inside each parent item.
• For performance:
• Keep DOM inserts cached and minimal.
• Avoid repetitive lookups or global DOM queries inside loops.
• Use event delegation if necessary for interaction.

4. Lazy Load Using Intersection Observer or Display Limits

• If you anticipate many nested items, set up jQuery or native IntersectionObserver to lazy-load or chunk child content for performance.
• Alternatively, limit initial render to a few children and add a “Show More” button to load the rest selectively via click.

5. Host External JSON If Needed

• If child data is heavy or needs to be shared across pages, publish it to a lightweight JSON file hosted on the Webflow CMS (via a custom plain RTB collection page).
• Fetch it via jQuery’s .getJSON() and inject content as needed.

Summary

To bypass Webflow’s nesting and item limits, use Multi-Reference CMS fields and jQuery to dynamically insert child items. Store child data as hidden attributes or load it via JSON, then loop and inject it client-side. This method preserves performance and avoids Webflow's static nesting caps.