The slice()
method extracts a section of a string and returns it as a new string, without modifying the original string.
The source for this interactive example is stored in a GitHub repository. If you'd like to contribute to the interactive examples project, please clone https://github.com/mdn/interactive-examples and send us a pull request.
Syntax
str.slice(beginIndex[, endIndex])
Parameters
beginIndex
-
The zero-based index at which to begin extraction. If negative, it is treated as
str.length + beginIndex
. (For example, ifbeginIndex
is-3
it is treated asstr.length - 3
.)If
beginIndex
is greater than or equal tostr.length
,slice()
returns an empty string. endIndex
Optional-
The zero-based index before which to end extraction. The character at this index will not be included.
If
endIndex
is omitted,slice()
extracts to the end of the string. If negative, it is treated asstr.length + endIndex
. (For example, ifendIndex
is-3
it is treated asstr.length - 3
.)
Return value
A new string containing the extracted section of the string.
Description
slice()
extracts the text from one string and returns a new string. Changes to the text in one string do not affect the other string.
slice()
extracts up to but not including endIndex
. str.slice(1, 4)
extracts the second character through the fourth character (characters indexed 1
, 2
, and 3
).
As an example, str.slice(2, -1)
extracts the third character through the second to last character in the string.
Examples
Using slice()
to create a new string
The following example uses slice()
to create a new string.
let str1 = 'The morning is upon us.', // the length of str1 is 23. str2 = str1.slice(1, 8), str3 = str1.slice(4, -2), str4 = str1.slice(12), str5 = str1.slice(30); console.log(str2) // OUTPUT: he morn console.log(str3) // OUTPUT: morning is upon u console.log(str4) // OUTPUT: is upon us. console.log(str5) // OUTPUT: ""
Using slice()
with negative indexes
The following example uses slice()
with negative indexes.
let str = 'The morning is upon us.' str.slice(-3) // returns 'us.' str.slice(-3, -1) // returns 'us' str.slice(0, -1) // returns 'The morning is upon us'
This example counts backwards from the end of the string by 11
to find the start index and forwards from the start of the string by 16
to find the end index.
console.log(str.slice(-11, 16)) // => "is u"
Here it counts forwards from the start by 11
to find the start index and backwards from the end by 7
to find the end index.
console.log(str.slice(11, -7)) // => " is u"
These arguments count backwards from the end by 5
to find the start index and backwards from the end by 1
to find the end index.
console.log(str.slice(-5, -1)) // => "n us"
Specifications
Specification |
---|
ECMAScript (ECMA-262) The definition of 'String.prototype.slice' in that specification. |
Browser compatibility
Desktop | Mobile | Server | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
slice | Chrome Full support 1 | Edge Full support 12 | Firefox Full support 1 | IE Full support 4 | Opera Full support 4 | Safari Full support 1 | WebView Android Full support 1 | Chrome Android Full support 18 | Firefox Android Full support 4 | Opera Android Full support 10.1 | Safari iOS Full support 1 | Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0 | nodejs Full support 0.1.100 |
Legend
- Full support
- Full support