JavaScript Program to Insert Item in an Array

To understand this example, you should have the knowledge of the following JavaScript programming topics:


Example 1: Add Item to Array Using splice()

// program to insert an item at a specific index into an array

function insertElement() {
    let array = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];

    // index to add to
    let index = 3;

    // element that you want to add
    let element = 8;
  
    array.splice(index, 0, element);
    console.log(array);
}

insertElement();

Output

[1, 2, 3, 8, 4, 5]

In the above program, the splice() method is used to insert an item with a specific index into an array.

The splice() method adds and/or removes an item.

In the splice() method,

  • The first argument specifies the index where you want to insert an item.
  • The second argument (here 0) specifies the number of items to remove.
  • The third argument specifies the element that you want to add to an array.

Example 2: Add Item to Array Using for Loop

// program to insert an item at a specific index into an array

function insertElement() {
    let array = [1, 2, 3, 4];

    // index to add to
    let index = 3;

    // element that you want to add
    let element = 8;
  
    for (let i = array.length; i > index; i--) {

        //shift the elements that are greater than index
        array[i] = array[i-1];
    }

    // insert element at given index
    array[index] = element;

    console.log(array);
}

insertElement();

Output

[1, 2, 3, 8, 4]

In the above program,

  • The for loop is used to iterate through the array elements.
  • The element is added to the given index.
  • All the elements whose index is greater than the given index are shifted one step to the right.
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