How to use JavaScript Array.prototype.splice() - JavaScript Splice Explained with Examples

Guide
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Array.prototype.splice

The splice method is similar to Array.prototype.slice, but unlike slice() it mutates the array it is called on. It also differs in that it can be used to add values to an array as well as remove them.

Parameters

splice() can take one or more

splice(start)

If only one parameter is included, then splice(start) will remove all array elements from start to the end of the array.

let exampleArray = ['first', 'second', 'third', 'fourth'];
exampleArray.splice(2);
// exampleArray is now ['first', 'second'];

If start is negative, it will count backwards from the end of the array.

let exampleArray = ['first', 'second', 'third', 'fourth'];
exampleArray.splice(-1);
// exampleArray is now ['first', 'second', 'third'];

splice(start, deleteCount)

If a second parameter is included, then splice(start, deleteCount) will remove deleteCount elements from the array, beginning with start .

let exampleArray = ['first', 'second', 'third', 'fourth'];
exampleArray.splice(1, 2);
// exampleArray is now ['first', 'fourth'];

splice(start, deleteCount, newElement1, newElement2, …)

If more than two parameters are included, the additional parameters will be new elements that are added to the array. The location of these added elements will be begin at start .

Elements can be added without removing any elements by passing 0 as the second parameter.

let exampleArray = ['first', 'second', 'third', 'fourth'];
exampleArray.splice(1, 0, 'new 1', 'new 2');
// exampleArray is now ['first', 'new 1', 'new 2', 'second', 'third', 'fourth']

Elements can also be replaced.

let exampleArray = ['first', 'second', 'third', 'fourth'];
exampleArray.splice(1, 2, 'new second', 'new third');
// exampleArray is now ['first', 'new second', 'new third', 'fourth']

Return value

In addition to changing the array that it is called on, splice() also returns an array containing the removed values. This is a way of cutting an array into two different arrays.

let exampleArray = ['first', 'second', 'third', 'fourth'];
let newArray = exampleArray.splice(1, 2);
// exampleArray is now ['first', 'fourth']
// newArray is ['second', 'third']
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