Question
Answer and Explanation
In JavaScript, the method used to remove the last element from an array and return that element is the pop()
method.
Here's a detailed explanation:
How pop()
Works:
The pop()
method modifies the original array by removing the last element. It also returns the removed element. If the array is empty, pop()
returns undefined
and does not modify the array.
Syntax:
array.pop()
Example:
let fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"];
let lastFruit = fruits.pop();
console.log(fruits); // Output: ["apple", "banana"]
console.log(lastFruit); // Output: "cherry"
In this example, pop()
removes "cherry" from the fruits
array and returns it. The original array is modified to contain only "apple" and "banana".
Key Characteristics of pop()
:
- Modifies the Original Array: The pop()
method changes the array it is called on.
- Returns the Removed Element: The method returns the element that was removed from the end of the array.
- Handles Empty Arrays: If the array is empty, pop()
returns undefined
.
Use Cases:
The pop()
method is commonly used when you need to process elements from the end of an array, such as in stack-like data structures or when you need to remove the last item from a list.
Important Note:
If you need to remove an element from the beginning of an array, you should use the shift()
method. If you need to remove an element from a specific index, you should use the splice()
method.
In summary, the pop()
method is the correct way to remove and retrieve the last element of an array in JavaScript.