The .shift() method removes the first element of an array. Then you can return the remaining:
const array = ["item 1", "item 2", "item 3", "item 4"];
array.shift();
console.log(array);As others have suggested, you could also use slice(1):
const array = ["item 1", "item 2", "item 3", "item 4"];
console.log(array.slice(1)); Top answer 1 of 10
295
The .shift() method removes the first element of an array. Then you can return the remaining:
const array = ["item 1", "item 2", "item 3", "item 4"];
array.shift();
console.log(array);As others have suggested, you could also use slice(1):
const array = ["item 1", "item 2", "item 3", "item 4"];
console.log(array.slice(1)); 2 of 10
100
Why not use ES6?
const array = ["item 1", "item 2", "item 3", "item 4"];
const [, ...rest] = array;
console.log(rest)MDN Web Docs
developer.mozilla.org › en-US › docs › Web › JavaScript › Reference › Global_Objects › Array › shift
Array.prototype.shift() - JavaScript | MDN
The shift() method of Array instances removes the first element from an array and returns that removed element. This method changes the length of the array.
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CoreUI
coreui.io › answers › how-to-remove-the-first-item-from-an-array-in-javascript
How to remove the first item from an array in JavaScript · CoreUI
September 18, 2025 - From my expertise, the most efficient and built-in solution is using the shift() method, which removes and returns the first element. This approach is clean, performant, and specifically designed for this exact use case.
Top answer 1 of 5
549
The easiest way is using shift(). If you have an array, the shift function shifts everything to the left.
var arr = [1, 2, 3, 4];
var theRemovedElement = arr.shift(); // theRemovedElement == 1
console.log(arr); // [2, 3, 4]
2 of 5
150
Just use arr.slice(startingIndex, endingIndex).
If you do not specify the endingIndex, it returns all the items starting from the index provided.
In your case arr=arr.slice(1).
SheCodes
shecodes.io › athena › 37747-how-to-remove-the-first-element-of-an-array-in-javascript
[JavaScript] - How to remove the first element of an array in JavaScript
Learn how to remove the first element of an array in JavaScript using the shift() method.
W3Schools
w3schools.com › jsref › jsref_shift.asp
JavaScript Array shift() Method
❮ Previous JavaScript Array Reference Next ❯ · Shift (remove) the first element of the array: const fruits = ["Banana", "Orange", "Apple", "Mango"]; fruits.shift(); Try it Yourself » · The shift() method returns the shifted element: const ...
Medium
medium.com › @erictongs › the-best-way-to-remove-the-first-element-of-an-array-in-javascript-shift-vs-splice-694378a7b416
The best way to remove the first element of an array in Javascript — shift() vs splice() | by Eric Tong | Medium
March 29, 2019 - In Javascript, there are two methods in Array.prototype for removing the first element of an array: shift() and splice(). shift() doesn’t take any arguments. It returns the first element of the array and removes the element from the array.
30 Seconds of Code
30secondsofcode.org › home › javascript › array › remove first or last n array elements
Remove the first or last n elements from a JavaScript array - 30 seconds of code
December 24, 2023 - In order to remove n elements from the beginning of an array, you can use Array.prototype.slice() with a positive start index and no end index. This will return a new array with the first n elements removed.
Sentry
sentry.io › sentry answers › javascript › how can i remove a specific item from an array?
How Can I Remove a Specific Item from an Array? | Sentry
The shift() method removes and returns the first element of an array.
freeCodeCamp
freecodecamp.org › news › how-to-remove-an-element-from-a-javascript-array-removing-a-specific-item-in-js
How to Remove an Element from a JavaScript Array – Removing a Specific Item in JS
August 31, 2022 - The shift method removes the first item of the array. It also returns the removed element.
MDN Web Docs
developer.mozilla.org › en-US › docs › Web › JavaScript › Reference › Global_Objects › Array › splice
Array.prototype.splice() - JavaScript | MDN
If deleteCount is omitted, or if its value is greater than or equal to the number of elements after the position specified by start, then all the elements from start to the end of the array will be deleted. However, if you wish to pass any itemN parameter, you should pass Infinity as deleteCount to delete all elements after start, because an explicit undefined gets converted to 0. If deleteCount is 0 or negative, no elements are removed.
Top answer 1 of 10
295
The .shift() method removes the first element of an array. Then you can return the remaining:
const array = ["item 1", "item 2", "item 3", "item 4"];
array.shift();
console.log(array);As others have suggested, you could also use slice(1):
const array = ["item 1", "item 2", "item 3", "item 4"];
console.log(array.slice(1)); 2 of 10
100
Why not use ES6?
const array = ["item 1", "item 2", "item 3", "item 4"];
const [, ...rest] = array;
console.log(rest)Bobby Hadz
bobbyhadz.com › blog › javascript-remove-first-element-from-array
Remove first or first N elements from Array in JavaScript | bobbyhadz
The Array.shift() method removes the first element from the array and returns it.
Vultr Docs
docs.vultr.com › javascript › standard-library › Array › shift
JavaScript Array shift() - Remove First Element | Vultr Docs
November 25, 2024 - The shift() method in JavaScript is a straightforward but powerful tool for manipulating arrays. It primarily focuses on removing the first element from an array and returning that removed element, altering the length of the array in the process.
Top answer 1 of 14
719
shift() is ideal for your situation. shift() removes the first element from an array and returns that element. This method changes the length of the array.
array = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
array.shift(); // 1
array // [2, 3, 4, 5]
2 of 14
450
For a more flexible solution, use the splice() function. It allows you to remove any item in an Array based on Index Value:
var indexToRemove = 0;
var numberToRemove = 1;
arr.splice(indexToRemove, numberToRemove);
GeeksforGeeks
geeksforgeeks.org › javascript › delete-the-first-element-of-array-without-using-shift-method-in-javascript
Delete the first element of array without using shift() method in JavaScript - GeeksforGeeks
August 5, 2025 - let Arr = ['Geeks', 'GFG', 'Geek', 'GeeksForGeeks']; console.log("Array: [" + Arr + "]"); function removeFirst(element, index) { return index > 0; } function myGFG() { Arr = Arr.filter(removeFirst); console.log("Elements of array = [" + Arr ...
DevGenius
blog.devgenius.io › 4-ways-to-remove-the-first-x-items-from-an-array-in-javascript-c1bb907d79e3
4 Ways to Remove the First X Items from an Array in JavaScript | by Tajammal Maqbool | Dev Genius
December 3, 2024 - The shift() method removes the first element of an array and returns it, mutating the original array.
RSWP Themes
rswpthemes.com › home › javascript tutorial › how to remove the first element from an array in javascript
How to Remove the First Element from an Array in JavaScript
January 10, 2024 - shift() removes the first element (‘apple’) from the ‘fruits’ array and returns it.
JSchallenger
jschallenger.com › javascript-practice › javascript-arrays › remove-first-elements-array-javascript
Remove first n elements of an array | JSchallenger
JSchallenger. Write a function that takes an array (a) as argument. Remove the first 3 elements of 'a'. Return the result
SitePoint
sitepoint.com › blog › javascript › jquery remove first array element
jQuery Remove First Array Element — SitePoint
February 12, 2024 - Just use the JavaScript array.shift() and array.pop() methods. These methods changes the length of the array! var myarray = ["item 1", "item 2", "item 3", "item 4"]; //removes the first element of the array, and returns that element. ... Don’t forget to put your jQuery code inside a document ...