Question

How to insert an item into an array at a specific index with JavaScript?

Although JavaScript provides various methods to add and remove elements at the beginning or end of an array, inserting an element at a specific index requires a slightly different approach.

In this short tutorial, we will explore how to insert an item into an array at a specific index using the splice() method.


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Bobby Iliev
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April 9, 2023
Accepted Answer

The Array.prototype.splice() method is a versatile and widely-used method to insert, remove, or replace elements within an array. To insert an item at a specific index, you can use the splice() method with the following syntax:

array.splice(index, 0, item);

Here, index is the position where you want to insert the item, 0 indicates that no elements should be removed, and item is the element you want to insert.

Example:

let fruits = ['apple', 'banana', 'orange'];
let index = 1;
let newItem = 'grape';

fruits.splice(index, 0, newItem);

console.log(fruits); // Output: ['apple', 'grape', 'banana', 'orange']

In this example, we inserted the ‘grape’ element at index 1 in the fruits array.

The splice() method offers a simple and efficient way to insert an item into an array at a specific index in JavaScript. By understanding how the method works, you can easily manipulate arrays to fit your needs.

Happy coding!

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