Remove elements from array in JavaScript using includes() and splice()?

The includes() method checks whether an array contains a specific element, while splice() is used to add or remove items from an array. Together, they can be used to remove multiple elements from an array efficiently.

Syntax

array.includes(searchElement)
array.splice(start, deleteCount)

How It Works

The approach involves iterating through the array and using includes() to check if each element should be removed. When a match is found, splice() removes it, and the index is decremented to account for the array shift.

Example

deleteElementsFromArray = function(elements, ...values) {
   let elementRemoved = Array.from(values);
   for (var index = 0; index < elements.length; index++){
      if (elementRemoved.includes(elements[index])){
         elements.splice(index, 1);
         index--;
      }
   }
   return elements;
}

console.log(deleteElementsFromArray([80, 90, 56, 34, 79], 90, 34, 79));

Output

[ 80, 56 ]

Step-by-Step Breakdown

// Original array
let numbers = [80, 90, 56, 34, 79];
let toRemove = [90, 34, 79];

console.log("Original array:", numbers);
console.log("Elements to remove:", toRemove);

// Process each element
for (let i = 0; i < numbers.length; i++) {
   if (toRemove.includes(numbers[i])) {
      console.log(`Removing ${numbers[i]} at index ${i}`);
      numbers.splice(i, 1);
      i--; // Adjust index after removal
   }
}

console.log("Final array:", numbers);

Output

Original array: [ 80, 90, 56, 34, 79 ]
Elements to remove: [ 90, 34, 79 ]
Removing 90 at index 1
Removing 34 at index 2
Removing 79 at index 3
Final array: [ 80, 56 ]

Key Points

• Index adjustment: After using splice(), decrement the index to avoid skipping elements
• Rest parameters: The ...values syntax allows passing multiple values to remove
• Array.from(): Converts the rest parameters into a proper array for includes()
• In-place modification: This method modifies the original array

Conclusion

Using includes() with splice() provides an effective way to remove multiple specific elements from an array. Remember to adjust the loop index after each removal to prevent skipping elements.