JavaScript Array slice() Method

The Array slice() method in JavaScript returns selected elements from an array, creating a new array. It selects elements from a specified start index up to, but not including, a specified end index. The original array remains unchanged.

Array slice() Syntax

arr.slice(begin, end);

Array slice() Parameters

• begin: This parameter defines the starting index from where the portion is to be extracted. If this argument is missing then the method takes begin as 0 as it is the default start value.
• end: Parameter specifying the end index for extracting a portion from an array, defaulting to array length if undefined, adjusting for exceeding length.

Array slice() Return value

This method returns a new array containing some portion of the original array. 

Array slice() Method Examples

Example 1: Extracting elements between two indexes

Here, the slice() method extracts the array from the given array starting from index 2 and including all the elements less than index 4.

JavaScript

function func() {
    // Original Array
    let arr = [23, 56, 87, 32, 75, 13];
    // Extracted array
    let new_arr = arr.slice(2, 4);
    console.log(arr);
    console.log(new_arr);
}
func();

Output

[ 23, 56, 87, 32, 75, 13 ]
[ 87, 32 ]

Explanation

• In the above example we Defines an array arr with values [23, 56, 87, 32, 75, 13].
• Uses the slice method to extract a portion from arr, starting from index 2 (inclusive) to index 4 (exclusive), storing it in new_arr.
• Logs both the original array arr and the extracted array new_arr to the console.

Example 2: Passing no arguments

Here, the slice() method extracts the entire array from the given string and returns it as the answer, Since no arguments were passed to it.

JavaScript

function func() {
    //Original Array
    let arr = [23, 56, 87, 32, 75, 13];
    //Extracted array
    let new_arr = arr.slice();
    console.log(arr);
    console.log(new_arr);
}
func();

Output

[ 23, 56, 87, 32, 75, 13 ]
[ 23, 56, 87, 32, 75, 13 ]

Explanation

• In the above example we Initializes an original array arr with values [23, 56, 87, 32, 75, 13].
• Creates a shallow copy of arr using the slice method without arguments, essentially duplicating the original array.
• Logs both the original array arr and the copied array to the console.

Example 3: Extracting array from index 2

In this example, the slice() method extracts the array starting from index 2 till the end of the array and returns it as the answer.

JavaScript

function func() {
    //Original Array
    let arr = [23, 56, 87, 32, 75, 13];
    //Extracted array
    let new_arr = arr.slice(2);
    console.log(arr);
    console.log(new_arr);
}
func();

Output

[ 23, 56, 87, 32, 75, 13 ]
[ 87, 32, 75, 13 ]

Explanation

• In the above example we Initializes an original array arr with values [23, 56, 87, 32, 75, 13].
• Creates a new array new_arr by extracting elements from index 2 to the end of the original array using the slice method.
• Logs both the original array arr and the extracted array new_arr to the console.
• The extracted array new_arr will contain elements [87, 32, 75, 13].

Example 4: Slicing the nested Array

In this example, the slice() method extracts the elements from the nested array and returns it as the answer.

Javascript

function func() {
    // Original Array
    let arr = [23, [87, 32, 75, 27,3,10,18 ,13]];
    // Extracted array
    let new_arr = arr[1].slice(2, 4);
    console.log(arr);
    console.log(new_arr);
}
func();

Output

[23, [87, 32, 75, 27,3, 10, 18, 13 ]]
[ 75, 27 ]

Explanation

• In the above example we Initializes an original array arr with values [23, [87, 32, 75, 27,3, 10, 18, 13 ]]
• Creates a new array new_arr by extracting elements from index 2 till the 4th element from the nested array using the slice method.
• Logs both the original array arr and the extracted array new_arr to the console.
• The extracted array new_arr will contain elements [ 75, 27 ].

We have a complete list of Javascript Array methods, to check those please go through this Javascript Array Complete reference article.

Supported Browsers

• Google Chrome
• Edge
• Internet Explorer 
• Firefox
• Opera
• Safari