JavaScript Array slice()

let numbers = [2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17];

// create another array by slicing numbers from index 3 to 5
let newArray = numbers.slice(3, 6);
console.log(newArray);

// Output: [ 7, 11, 13 ]

slice() Syntax

The syntax of the slice() method is:

arr.slice(start, end)

Here, arr is an array.

slice() Parameters

The slice() method takes in:

• start (optional) - Starting index of the selection. If not provided, the selection starts at start 0.
• end (optional) - Ending index of the selection (exclusive). If not provided, the selection ends at the index of the last element.

slice() Return Value

• Returns a new array containing the extracted elements.

Example 1: JavaScript slice() method

let languages = ["JavaScript", "Python", "C", "C++", "Java"];

// slicing the array (from start to end)
let new_arr = languages.slice();
console.log(new_arr); // [ 'JavaScript', 'Python', 'C', 'C++', 'Java' ]

// slicing from the third element
let new_arr1 = languages.slice(2);
console.log(new_arr1); // [ 'C', 'C++', 'Java' ]

// slicing from the second element to fourth element
let new_arr2 = languages.slice(1, 4);
console.log(new_arr2); // [ 'Python', 'C', 'C++' ]

Output

[ 'JavaScript', 'Python', 'C', 'C++', 'Java' ]
[ 'C', 'C++', 'Java' ]
[ 'Python', 'C', 'C++' ]

Example 2: JavaScript slice() With Negative index

In JavaScript, you can also use negative start and end indices. The index of the last element is -1, the index of the second last element is -2, and so on.

const languages = ["JavaScript", "Python", "C", "C++", "Java"];

// slicing the array from start to second-to-last
let new_arr = languages.slice(0, -1);
console.log(new_arr); // [ 'JavaScript', 'Python', 'C', 'C++' ]

// slicing the array from third-to-last
let new_arr1 = languages.slice(-3);
console.log(new_arr1); // [ 'C', 'C++', 'Java' ]

Output

[ 'JavaScript', 'Python', 'C', 'C++' ]
[ 'C', 'C++', 'Java' ]

Example 3: JavaScript slice() with Objects as Array Elements

The slice() method shallow copies the elements of the array in the following way:

• It copies object references to the new array. (For example, a nested array) So if the referenced object is modified, the changes are visible in the returned new array.
• It copies the value of strings and numbers to the new array.

let human = {
  name: "David",
  age: 23,
};

let arr = [human, "Nepal", "Manager"];
let new_arr = arr.slice();

// original object
console.log(arr[0]); // { name: 'David', age: 23 }

// making changes to the object in new array
new_arr[0].name = "Levy";

// changes are reflected
console.log(arr[0]); // { name: 'Levy', age: 23 }

Output

{ name: 'David', age: 23 }
{ name: 'Levy', age: 23 }

Recommended Reading: JavaScript Array.splice()