As you know, a variable can store a single element. If you need to store multiple elements at once, you can use an array.

An array is an object that can store multiple elements. For example,

let myArray = ['hello', 'world', 'welcome'];

Create an Array

You can create an array using two ways:

1. Using an array literal

The easiest way to create an array is by using an array literal []. For example,

let array1 = ["eat", "sleep"];

2. Using the new keyword

You can also create an array using JavaScript’s new keyword.

let array2 = new Array("eat", "sleep");

In both of the above examples, we have created an array having two elements.

Note: It is recommended to use array literal to create an array.

Here are more examples of arrays:

// empty array
let myList = [ ];
// array containing number values
let numberArray = [ 2, 4, 6, 8];

// array containing string values
let stringArray = [ 'eat', 'work', 'sleep'];

// multiple data types array
let newData = ['work', 'exercise', 1, true];

You can also store arrays, functions and other objects inside an array. For example,

let newData = [
    {'task1': 'exercise'},
    [1, 2 ,3],
    function hello() { console.log('hello')}
];

Access Elements of an Array

You can access the elements inside of an array using indices (0, 1, 2 …). For example,

let myArray = ['h',  'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'];

// first element
console.log(myArray[0]);  // "h"

// second element
console.log(myArray[1]); // "e"

Note: Array’s index starts with 0, not 1.

Add an Element to an Array

You can use the built-in method push() and unshift() to add an element to an array.

The push() method adds an element at the end of an array and returns the length of a new array. For example,

let dailyActivities = ['eat', 'sleep'];

// add an element at the end of the array
dailyActivities.push('exercise');

console.log(dailyActivities); //  ['eat', 'sleep', 'exercise']

The unshift() method adds a new element to the beginning of an array and returns the new length of an array. For example,

let dailyActivities = ['eat', 'sleep'];

//add an element at the end of the array
dailyActivities.unshift('work'); 

console.log(dailyActivities); // ['work', 'eat', 'sleep', 'exercise'']

Change the Elements of an Array

You can also add elements or change the elements by accessing the index value.

let dailyActivities = [ 'eat', 'sleep'];

// this will add the new element 'exercise' at the 2 index
dailyActivities[2] = 'exercise';

console.log(dailyActivities); // ['eat', 'sleep', 'exercise']

Suppose, an array has two elements. If you try to add an element at index 3 (fourth element), the third element will be undefined. For example,

let dailyActivities = [ 'eat', 'sleep'];

// this will add the new element 'exercise' at the 3 index
dailyActivities[3] = 'exercise';

console.log(dailyActivities); // ["eat", "sleep", undefined, "exercise"]

Basically, if you try to add elements to high indices, the indices in between will have undefined value.

Remove an Element from an Array

You can use the pop() method to remove the last element from an array. The pop() method also returns the returned value. For example,

let dailyActivities = ['work', 'eat', 'sleep', 'exercise'];

// remove the last element
dailyActivities.pop();
console.log(dailyActivities); // ['work', 'eat', 'sleep']

// remove the last element from ['work', 'eat', 'sleep']
let removedElement = dailyActivities.pop();

//get removed element
console.log(removedElement); // 'sleep'
console.log(dailyActivities);  // ['work', 'eat']

If you need to remove the first element, you can use the shift() method. The shift() method removes the first element and also returns the removed element. For example,

let dailyActivities = ['work', 'eat', 'sleep'];

// remove the first element
dailyActivities.shift();

console.log(dailyActivities); // ['eat', 'sleep']

Array length

You can find the length of an element(the number of elements in an array) using the length property. For example,

let dailyActivities = [ 'eat', 'sleep'];

// this gives the total number of elements in an array
console.log(dailyActivities.length); // 2

Array Methods

In JavaScript, there are various methods available to you for arrays that makes it easier to perform useful calculations.

Some of the commonly used JavaScript array methods are:

Example: JavaScript Array Methods

let dailyActivities = ['sleep', 'work', 'exercise']
let newRoutine = ['eat'];

// sorting elements in the alphabetical order
dailyActivities.sort();
console.log(dailyActivities); // ['exercise', 'sleep', 'work']

//finding the index position of string
let position = dailyActivities.indexOf('work');
console.log(position); // 2

// slicing the array elements
let newDailyActivities = dailyActivities.slice(1);
console.log(newDailyActivities); // [ 'sleep', 'work']

// concatenating two arrays
let routine = dailyActivities.concat(newRoutine);
console.log(routine); // ["exercise", "sleep", "work", "eat"]

Working of JavaScript Arrays

In JavaScript, an array is an object. And, the indices of arrays are objects keys.

Since arrays are objects, the array elements are stored by reference. Hence, when an array value is copied to another variable, any change in the copied array will also reflect in the original array. For example,

let arr = ['h', 'e'];
let arr1 = arr;
arr1.push('l');

console.log(arr); // ["h", "e", "l"]
console.log(arr1); // ["h", "e", "l"]

You can also store values by passing a named key in an array. For example,

let arr = ['h', 'e'];
arr.name = 'John';

console.log(arr); // ["h", "e"]
console.log(arr.name); // "John"
console.log(arr['name']); // "John"

However, it is not recommended to store values by passing arbitrary names in an array.

Hence in JavaScript, you should use an array if values are in ordered collection.Otherwise it’s better to use object with { }.