JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-1.12.4.js"></script>
<ul class="nav">
<li class=""><a href="www.url.com/photos">photos</a></li>

</ul>

CSS

.active{
  color:red;
}

JavaScript

var url = window.location;
//    console.log(url);
    // var element = $('ul.nav a').filter(function() {
    //     return this.href == url;
    // }).addClass('active').parent().parent().addClass('in').parent();
    var element = $('ul.nav a').filter(function() {
    if(url.indexOf(this.href) != -1)
     return true;
    }).addClass('active').parent();

    while (true) {
        if (element.is('li')) {
            element = element.parent().addClass('in').parent();
        } else {
            break;
        }
    }