We can use the **`array_shift` method** to remove the first element from an array.

#   
#  Syntax

```php
array_shift(array)
``` 

This method returns the value of the first element. If the array is empty, then `null` is returned.

Upon removing the first element, the numeric index of all elements is reassigned, starting from zero. Non-numeric keys remain unchanged.   

> This method #key# resets: points to the first element of the array #key# the internal pointer of the array.


##  
## Example 

<?php
  $numbers = [
    1,
    2, 
    'three' => 3,
    4
  ];

  echo "The array is ";
  print_r($numbers);
  echo "\n";

  echo "Removing first element: ". array_shift($numbers). "\n";

  echo "After deleting first element the numeric index of array will be changed. \nThe array is ";
  print_r($numbers);
  echo "\n";

  echo "Removing first element: ". array_shift($numbers). "\n";
  echo "Removing first element: ". array_shift($numbers). "\n";
  echo "Removing first element: ". array_shift($numbers). "\n";
  echo "Removing first element: ";
  var_dump(array_shift($numbers));

  echo "\nThe array is ";
  print_r($numbers);
?>

In the code above:

* We created a `numbers` array.

* We used the `array_shift` method multiple times and removed the first element of the array until the array becomes empty. 

What is the array_shift method in PHP?

`array_shift` in PHP removes the first element, returns its value, and reassigns numeric indexes.