Manipulating Arrays in JavaScript
Tags: javascript, es6, arrays
Published: 2019-03-13 05:35:28

---
title: Manipulating Arrays in JavaScript
published: true
description: "Arrays have become an important part of any programming language. Most times we need to do several operations on arrays, hence this article. In this article, I would show you various methods of manipulating arrays in JavaScript"
tags: ["javascript", "es6", "arrays"]
canonical_url: "https://bolajiayodeji.com/manipulating-arrays-in-javascript-cjvuuty3500354js1sba6z6yr"
---


Arrays have become an important part of any programming language. Most times we
need to do several operations on arrays, hence this article.

In this article, I would show you various methods of manipulating arrays in
JavaScript [^^]

![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/880/1*EK3RyHqvMS-ZIy9UyNMxTA.png)

*****

### What are Arrays in JavaScript?

Before we proceed, you need to understand what arrays really mean.

> In JavaScript, an array is a variable that is used to store different data
> types. It basically stores different elements in one box and can be later
assesssed with the variable.

Declaring an array:

    let myBox = [];   // Initial Array declaration in JS

Arrays can contain multiple data types

    let myBox = ['hello', 1, 2, 3, true, 'hi'];

*****

Arrays can be manipulated by using several actions known as **methods.** Some of
these methods allow us to add, remove, modify and do lots more to arrays.

I would be showing you a few in this article, let’s roll :)

> NB: I used **Arrow functions** in this post, If you don’t know what this means,
> you should read
[here](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Functions/Arrow_functions).
Arrow function is an **ES6 feature**.

*****

### toString()

The JavaScript method `toString()` converts an array to a string separated by a
comma.

    let colors = ['green', 'yellow', 'blue'];
    colors.toString();

    console.log(colors); // "green,yellow,blue"

### join()

The JavaScript `join()` method combines all array elements into a string.

It is similar to `toString()` method, but here you can specify the separator
instead of the default comma.

    let colors = ['green', 'yellow', 'blue'];
    colors.join('-');

    console.log(colors); // "green-yellow-blue"

### concat

This method combines two arrays together or add more items to an array and then
return a new array.

    let firstNumbers = [1, 2, 3];
    let secondNumbers = [4, 5, 6];

    let merged = firstNumbers.concat(secondNumbers);

    console.log(merged); // [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

### push()

This method adds items to the end of an array and **changes** the original
array.

    let browsers = ['chrome', 'firefox', 'edge'];
    browsers.push('safari', 'opera mini');

    console.log(browsers); 
    // ["chrome", "firefox", "edge", "safari", "opera mini"]

### pop()

This method removes the last item of an array and **returns** it

    let browsers = ['chrome', 'firefox', 'edge'];
    browsers.pop(); // "edge"

    console.log(browsers); // ["chrome", "firefox"]

### shift()

This method removes the first item of an array and **returns** it

    let browsers = ['chrome', 'firefox', 'edge'];
    browsers.shift(); // "chrome"

    console.log(browsers); // ["firefox", "edge"]

### unshift()

This method adds an item(s) to the beginning of an array and **changes** the
original array.

    let browsers = ['chrome', 'firefox', 'edge'];
    browsers.unshift('safari');

    console.log(browsers); //  ["safari", "chrome", "firefox", "edge"]

> You can also add multiple items at once

### splice()

This method **changes** an array, by adding, removing and inserting
elements.

The syntax is:
```
array.splice(index[, deleteCount, element1, ..., elementN])
```


* `Index` here is the starting point for removing elements in the array
* `deleteCount` is the number of elements to be deleted from that index
* `element1, …, elementN` is the element(s) to be added

**Removing items**

> after running **splice()**, it returns the array with the item(s) removed and
> removes it from the original array.

    let colors = ['green', 'yellow', 'blue', 'purple'];
    colors.splice(0, 3);
    console.log(colors); // ["purple"]
    // deletes ["green", "yellow", "blue"]

> **NB**: The deleteCount does not include the last index in range.

If the second parameter is not declared, every element starting from the given
index will be removed from the array:

    let colors = ['green', 'yellow', 'blue', 'purple'];
    colors.splice(3);
    console.log(colors); // ["green", "yellow", "blue"]
    // deletes ['purple']

In the next example we will remove 3 elements from the array and replace them
with more items:

```
let schedule = ['I', 'have', 'a', 'meeting', 'tommorrow'];
// removes 4 first elements and replace them with another
schedule.splice(0, 4, 'we', 'are', 'going', 'to', 'swim');
console.log(schedule); 
// ["we", "are", "going", "to", "swim", "tommorrow"]
```


**Adding items**

To add items, we need to set the `deleteCount` to zero
```
let schedule = ['I', 'have', 'a', 'meeting', 'with'];
// adds 3 new elements to the array
schedule.splice(5, 0, 'some', 'clients', 'tommorrow');
console.log(schedule); 
// ["I", "have", "a", "meeting", "with", "some", "clients", "tommorrow"]
```



### slice()

> This method is similar to `splice()` but very different. It returns subarrays
> instead of substrings.

This method **copies** a given part of an array and returns that copied part as
a new array. **It does not change the original array.**

The syntax is:
```
array.slice(start, end)
```


Here’s a basic example:

    let numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4]
    numbers.slice(0, 3)
    // returns [1, 2, 3]

    console.log(numbers) // returns the original array

The best way to use `slice()` is to assign it to a new variable.

    let message = 'congratulations'
    const abbrv = message.slice(0, 7) + 's!'; 
    console.log(abbrv) // returns "congrats!"

### split()

This method is used for **strings**. It divides a string into substrings and
returns them as an array.

Here’s the syntax:

    string.split(separator, limit);

* The `separator` here defines how to split a string either by a comma.
* The `limit` determines the number of splits to be carried out
    
```
let firstName = 'Bolaji';
// return the string as an array
firstName.split() // ["Bolaji"]
```

another example:

    let firstName = 'hello, my name is bolaji, I am a dev.';
    firstName.split(',', 2); // ["hello", " my name is bolaji"]

> **NB:** If we declare an empty array, like this: *`firstName.split('');`* then
> each item in the string will be divided as substrings:

    let firstName = 'Bolaji';
    firstName.split('') // ["B", "o", "l", "a", "j", "i"]

### indexOf()

This method looks for an item in an array and returns **the index** where it was
found else it returns `-1`

    let fruits = ['apple', 'orange', false, 3]
    fruits.indexOf('orange'); // returns 1
    fruits.indexOf(3); // returns 3
    friuts.indexOf(null); // returns -1 (not found)

### lastIndexOf()

This method works the same way **indexOf()** does except that it works from
right to left. It returns the last index where the item was found

    let fruits = ['apple', 'orange', false, 3, 'apple']
    fruits.lastIndexOf('apple'); // returns 4

### filter()

This method creates a new array if the items of an array pass a certain
condition.

The syntax is:
```
let results = array.filter(function(item, index, array) {
  // returns true if the item passes the filter
});
```


Example:

Checks users from Nigeria
```
const countryCode = ['+234', '+144', '+233', '+234'];
const nigerian = countryCode.filter( code => code === '+234');
console.log(nigerian); // ["+234", "+234"]
```

### map()

This method creates a new array by manipulating the values in an array.

Example:

Displays usernames on a page. (Basic friend list display)

    const userNames = ['tina', 'danny', 'mark', 'bolaji'];
    const display = userNames.map(item => {
     '<li>' + item + '</li>';
    })
    const render = '<ul>' + display.join('') + '</ul>';

    document.write(render);

![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/880/1*obuBZKFb5vKmUP7D4TX2XA.png)

another example:
```
// adds dollar sign to numbers
const numbers = [10, 3, 4, 6];
const dollars = numbers.map( number => '$' + number);
console.log(dollars);
// ['$10', '$3', '$4', '$6'];
```

### reduce()

This method is good for calculating totals.

**reduce()** is used to calculate a single value based on an array.

The syntax is:
```
let value = array.reduce(function(previousValue, item, index, array) {
  // ...
}, initial);
```

example:

> To loop through an array and sum all numbers in the array up, we can use the for
> of loop.

```
const numbers = [100, 300, 500, 70];
let sum = 0;
for (let n of numbers) {
sum += n;
}
console.log(sum);
```

Here’s how to do same with `reduce()`

    const numbers = [100, 300, 500, 70];
    const sum = numbers.reduce((accummulator, value) =>
    accummulator + value
    , 0);

    console.log(sum); // 970

> If you omit the initial value, the *total* will by default start from the first
> item in the array.

    const numbers = [100, 300, 500, 70];
    const sum = numbers.reduce((accummulator, value) => accummulator + value);

    console.log(sum); // still returns 970

The snippet below shows how the **reduce()** method works with all four
arguments.

**source: MDN Docs**

![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/880/1*Cbd9qR_vy71qZjEQCFpCLQ.png)

More insights into the **reduce()** method and various ways of using it can be
found [here](https://medium.freecodecamp.org/reduce-f47a7da511a9) and
[here](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Array/Reduce).

### forEach()

This method is good for iterating through an array.

It applies a function on all items in an array

    const colors = ['green', 'yellow', 'blue'];

    colors.forEach((item, index) => console.log(index, item));
    // returns the index and the every item in the array
    // 0 "green"
    // 1 "yellow"
    // 2 "blue"

iteration can be done without passing the index argument

    const colors = ['green', 'yellow', 'blue'];

    colors.forEach((item) => console.log(item));
    // returns every item in the array
    // "green"
    // "yellow"
    // "blue"

### every()

This method checks if all items in an array pass the specified condition and
return `true` if passed, else `false`.

> check if all numbers are positive

    const numbers = [1, -1, 2, 3];
    let allPositive = numbers.every((value) => {
     value >= 0;
    })

    console.log(allPositive); 

### some()

This method checks if an item (one or more) in an array pass the specified
condition and return true if passed, else false.

> c*hecks if at least one number is positive*

    const numbers = [1, -1, 2, 3];

    let atLeastOnePositive = numbers.some((value) => {
     value >= 0;
    })
    console.log(atLeastOnePositive); 

### includes()

This method checks if an array contains a certain item. It is similar to
`.some()`, but instead of looking for a specific condition to pass, it checks if
the array contains a specific item.

    let users = ['paddy', 'zaddy', 'faddy', 'baddy'];
    users.includes('baddy'); // returns true

If the item is not found, it returns `false`

*****

There are more array methods, this is just a few of them. Also, there are tons
of other actions that can be performed on arrays, try checking MDN docs
[here](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Array/)
for deeper insights.

### Summary

* **toString()** converts an array to a string separated by a comma.
* **join()** combines all array elements into a string.
* **concat** combines two arrays together or add more items to an array and then
return a new array.
* **push()** adds item(s) to the end of an array and **changes** the original
array.
* **pop()** removes the last item of an array and **returns** it
* **shift()** removes the first item of an array and **returns** it
* **unshift()** adds an item(s) to the beginning of an array and **changes** the
original array.
* **splice()** **changes** an array, by adding, removing and inserting elements.
* **slice()** **copies** a given part of an array and returns that copied part as
a new array. **It does not change the original array.**
* **split()** divides a string into substrings and returns them as an array.
* **indexOf()** looks for an item in an array and returns **the index** where it
was found else it returns `-1`
* **lastIndexOf()** looks for an item from right to left and returns the last
index where the item was found.
* **filter()** creates a new array if the items of an array pass a certain
condition.
* **map()** creates a new array by manipulating the values in an array.
* **reduce()** calculates a single value based on an array.
* **forEach()** iterates through an array, it applies a function on all items in
an array
* **every()** checks if all items in an array pass the specified condition and
return true if passed, else false.
* **some()** checks if an item (one or more) in an array pass the specified
condition and return true if passed, else false.
* **includes()** checks if an array contains a certain item.

*****

Let’s wrap it here; Arrays are powerful and using methods to manipulate them
creates the Algorithms real-world applications use.

Let's do a create a small function, one that converts a post title into a
urlSlug.

> **URL slug** is the exact address of a specific page or post on your site.

When you write an article on **[Medium](https://medium.com)** or any other writing platform, your post
title is automatically converted to a slug with white spaces removed, characters
turned to lowercase and each word in the title separated by a hyphen.

Here’s a basic function that does that using some of the methods we learnt just
now.
```
const url = 'https://bolajiayodeji.com/'
const urlSlug = (postTitle, category) => {
let postUrl = postTitle.toLowerCase().split(' ');
let postSlug = `${url}` + category + '/' + postUrl.join('-');
return postSlug;
}
let postTitle = 'Introduction to Chrome Lighthouse'
let category = 'dt'
console.log(urlSlug(postTitle, category));

// https://bolajiayodeji.com/dt/introduction-to-chrome-lighthouse
```

in `postUrl`, we convert the string to lowercase then we use the **split()**
method to convert the string into substrings and returns it in an array

    ["introduction", "to", "chrome", "lighthouse"]

in `post slug` we join the returned array with a hyphen and then concatenate it
to the category string and main `url`.

    let postSlug = `${url}` + category + '/' + postUrl.join('-');
    postUrl.join('-') // introduction-to-chrome-lighthouse

That’s it, pretty simple, right? :)

*****

If you’re just getting started with JavaScript, you should check this repository
[here](https://github.com/BolajiAyodeji/js-code-snippets), I’m compiling a list
of basic JavaScript snippets ranging from

* Arrays
* Control flow
* Dom
* Functions
* Objects
* Operators


Thank you for reading, got any questions or views? Let's discuss in comments.