Emptying Arrays in JavaScript: A Practical Guide

Max N
2 min readMar 21, 2024

Arrays are a fundamental part of JavaScript, allowing developers to store and manipulate collections of data efficiently. However, there are times when you need to empty an array completely, removing all its elements. In this article, we will explore different methods to empty arrays in JavaScript effectively.

Clearing an Array Using Length Property

One of the simplest ways to empty an array in JavaScript is by setting its length property to 0. By doing this, all elements beyond the new length will be removed. Let’s take a look at an example:

let myArray = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
myArray.length = 0;

console.log(myArray); // Output: []

By setting the length of the array to 0, we effectively remove all elements from it. This method is straightforward and efficient for clearing arrays.

Using Splice Method

Another method to empty an array is by using the splice method. This method can be used to remove elements from an array by specifying the start index and the number of elements to remove. To empty an array using splice, you can do the following:

let myArray = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
myArray.splice(0);

console.log(myArray); // Output: []

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Max N

A writer that writes about JavaScript and Python to beginners. If you find my articles helpful, feel free to follow.