initial()

initial<T>(array): T[]

Gets all but the last element of array.

DEPRECATED

Use array.slice(0, -1) directly instead.

Reason:
Native equivalent method now available

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Type Parameters

T: T

The type of elements in the array.

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Parameters

array: T[]

The array to query.

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Returns: T[]

A new array with all elements except the last.

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See Also

• Array.slice() - MDN
• Browser support - Can I Use

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Since

2.0.0

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Also known as

dropLast (Remeda) · init (Ramda, Effect) · initial (Lodash, es-toolkit) · ❌ (Radashi, Modern Dash, Antfu)

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Example

const numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];

// ❌ Deprecated approach
const withoutLast = initial(numbers);
console.log(withoutLast); // [1, 2, 3, 4]

// ✅ Recommended approach
const withoutLastNative = numbers.slice(0, -1);
console.log(withoutLastNative); // [1, 2, 3, 4]

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How it works?

Gets all but the last element of array. Deprecated: Use array.slice(0, -1) directly.

Native Equivalent

// ❌ initial(arr)
// ✅ arr.slice(0, -1)

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Use Cases

Get all but last element 📌

Get array without the last element.

#initial#exclude#last#slice

const items = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
items.slice(0, -1);
// => [1, 2, 3, 4]

Process all but current

Get previous items excluding the current one.

#process#exclude#current#history

const history = ["page1", "page2", "page3"];
history.slice(0, -1);
// => ["page1", "page2"]

Remove trailing element

Create new array without the last item.

#remove#trailing#exclude#immutable

const path = ["home", "docs", "file.txt"];
path.slice(0, -1);
// => ["home", "docs"]