a-z list, categories and sub categories in loop

Question

I'd like to list my categories in a loop from a-z, the code i currently have just keeps repeating over and over im not sure what the problem is but the format should look something like.

• Parent Category

  • Child Category
  • Child Category
  • Child Category
  • Child Category

My code:

<?php 
$args = array( 'orderby' => 'name','order' => 'ASC' );
$categories = get_categories( $args );
foreach($categories as $category) {
    echo '<p><a href="'.get_category_link( $category->term_id ).'">'.$category->category_nicename.'</a></p>';
    echo '<p class="cat-child"><a href="'.get_category_link( $category->term_id ).'">'.$category->child.'</a></p>';
}
?>

Answer 1

So you want to list the categories in a tree structure, in alphabetical order, showing ALL categories (even empty ones)? If so, try this:

<?php
    $args = array('orderby' => 'name', 'order' => 'ASC', 'hide_empty' => false);
    $categories = wp_list_categories($args);
?>

Reference: wp_list_categories

Answer 2

Try this:

//get only parents
$args = array('orderby' => 'name','order' => 'ASC','parent' => 0);
$Parent_categories = get_categories($args);

foreach($Parent_categories as $category) { 
    echo '<p><a href="'.get_category_link( $category->term_id ).'">'.$category->category_nicename.'</a><br/>';
    //get all children of this category
    $args = array('orderby' => 'name','order' => 'ASC','parent' => $category->term_id);
    $Child_categories = get_categories($args);
    foreach ($Child_categories as $c){
        echo '<span class="cat-child"><a href="'.get_category_link( $c->term_id ).'">'.$c->category_nicename.'</a></span>  ';
    }
    echo '</p>';
}

Answer 3

You can get & list all categories, with sub-categories, like a "tree"! see solution:
How to sort list of custom posts to get view like a tree of posts under categories and their children's categories?