Add preserveParentContext configuration for partial context handling

README.md

@@ -846,6 +846,27 @@ Hello edgar!
  The Mustache Spec has some rules for removing spaces and new lines. This feature is disabled by default.
  You can turn this on by setting the: ```Handlebars.prettyPrint(true)```.
 
+### Preserve Parent Context in Partials
+ By default, Handlebars.java creates a new partial context when invoking a partial, which means the `{{..}}` operator in a partial references the partial call site rather than the original parent scope.
+
+ You can change this behavior by setting: ```Handlebars.preserveParentContext(true)```.
+
+ When enabled, partials like `{{> partial this}}` or `{{> partial ..}}` will preserve the parent context chain, allowing `{{..}}` inside partials to reference the original parent scope.
+
+ Example:
+
+```java
+Handlebars handlebars = new Handlebars().preserveParentContext(true);
+```
+
+ When `preserveParentContext` is enabled:
+ * `{{> partial}}` uses the current context directly
+ * `{{> partial this}}` uses the current context directly
+ * `{{> partial ..}}` navigates up one parent level
+ * `{{> partial ../..}}` navigates up multiple parent levels
+
+ Default is: `false` (for backward compatibility).
+
 
 # Modules
 

handlebars/src/main/java/com/github/jknack/handlebars/Handlebars.java

@@ -366,6 +366,26 @@ private static <E extends Throwable> void sneakyThrow0(final Throwable x) throws
    */
   private boolean preEvaluatePartialBlocks = true;
 
+  /**
+   * If true, preserves the parent context when invoking partials without creating a new PartialCtx.
+   * This allows {{..}} in partials to reference the original parent scope.
+   *
+   * <p>When enabled:
+   * <ul>
+   *   <li>{{> partial}} uses the current context directly</li>
+   *   <li>{{> partial this}} uses the current context directly</li>
+   *   <li>{{> partial ..}} navigates up one parent level</li>
+   *   <li>{{> partial ../..}} navigates up multiple parent levels</li>
+   * </ul>
+   *
+   * <p>When disabled (default): Creates a new PartialCtx for each partial (traditional behavior).
+   *
+   * <p>Default: false (for backward compatibility)
+   *
+   * @since 4.6.0
+   */
+  private boolean preserveParentContext = false;
+
   /** Standard charset. */
   private Charset charset = StandardCharsets.UTF_8;
 
@@ -1300,6 +1320,39 @@ public Handlebars preEvaluatePartialBlocks(final boolean preEvaluatePartialBlock
     return this;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Get the preserve parent context flag.
+   *
+   * @return True if parent context is preserved, false otherwise.
+   */
+  public boolean preserveParentContext() {
+    return preserveParentContext;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Set the preserve parent context flag.
+   *
+   * @param preserveParentContext True to preserve parent context, false to use traditional behavior.
+   */
+  public void setPreserveParentContext(final boolean preserveParentContext) {
+    this.preserveParentContext = preserveParentContext;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Set the preserve parent context flag.
+   *
+   * <p>When enabled, partials like {{> partial this}} or {{> partial ..}} will preserve the parent
+   * context chain, allowing {{..}} inside partials to reference the original parent scope instead of
+   * the partial call site.
+   *
+   * @param preserveParentContext True to preserve parent context, false to use traditional behavior.
+   * @return This handlebars object.
+   */
+  public Handlebars preserveParentContext(final boolean preserveParentContext) {
+    setPreserveParentContext(preserveParentContext);
+    return this;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Return a parser factory.
    *

handlebars/src/main/java/com/github/jknack/handlebars/internal/Partial.java

@@ -203,6 +203,43 @@ protected void merge(final Context context, final Writer writer) throws IOExcept
           }
         }
       }
+
+      // Check if preserveParentContext mode is enabled for pure parent path navigation:
+      // Supports: this, .., ../.. (does not support mixed paths like ../foo/bar or hash arguments)
+      if (handlebars.preserveParentContext()
+          && ("this".equals(this.scontext) || this.scontext.startsWith(".."))) {
+
+        if ("this".equals(this.scontext)) {
+          // Use current context directly, don't create new context
+          template.apply(context, writer);
+          return;
+        }
+
+        // Handle .. and ../.. paths
+        Context currentContext = context;
+        String remainingContext = this.scontext;
+
+        // Navigate up the parent chain for each ../ encountered
+        while (remainingContext.startsWith("../") && currentContext != null) {
+          currentContext = currentContext.parent();
+          remainingContext = remainingContext.substring(3);
+        }
+
+        if ("".equals(remainingContext) && currentContext != null) {
+          // "../" or "../../" etc. - use the navigated context
+          template.apply(currentContext, writer);
+          return;
+        }
+
+        if ("..".equals(remainingContext) && currentContext != null
+            && currentContext.parent() != null) {
+          // Single ".." - navigate to parent
+          template.apply(currentContext.parent(), writer);
+          return;
+        }
+      }
+
+      // Traditional mode: create new PartialCtx (default behavior for backward compatibility)
       context.data(Context.CALLEE, this);
       Map<String, Object> hash = hash(context);
       // HACK: hide/override local attribute with parent version (if any)