How to insert an item into an array at a specific index (JavaScript)?

Question

I am looking for a JavaScript array insert method, in the style of:

arr.insert(index, item)

Preferably in jQuery, but any JavaScript implem

Answer 1

Immutable insertion

Using splice method is surely the best answer if you need to insert into an array in-place.

However, if you are looking for an immutable function that returns a new updated array instead of mutating the original array on insert, you can use the following function.

function insert(array, index) {
  const items = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 2);

  return [].concat(array.slice(0, index), items, array.slice(index));
}

const list = ['one', 'two', 'three'];

const list1 = insert(list, 0, 'zero'); // Insert single item
const list2 = insert(list, 3, 'four', 'five', 'six'); // Insert multiple


console.log('Original list: ', list);
console.log('Inserted list1: ', list1);
console.log('Inserted list2: ', list2);

Note: This is a pre-ES2015 way of doing it so it works for both older and newer browsers.

If you're using ES6 then you can try out rest parameters too; see this answer.