# Overview

The **`shift` function** in JavaScript removes the starting element of an array and returns it. The general syntax of the `shift` function is as follows:

```Javascript
array.shift()
```

# Parameters

The `shift` function takes no mandatory inputs as parameters.

# Return value

The `shift` function returns the element that has been removed from the array.

# Example

The example below will help you understand the `shift` function better. First, we create the array and call the `shift` function on it. We store the returned value in a variable and print to see that it is indeed the first element of the array. 

Moreover, printing the array shows that the first element has been removed. 

const arr1 = [1,2,3]

const first = arr1.shift()
console.log(first)
console.log(arr1)

How to use array shift in JavaScript

The shift function in JavaScript removes and returns the first element of an array.