To get the last item in an array in JavaScript, you can use one of these methods:
1. Using array.length - 1 (Most Common)
Access the last element directly via the array’s length property:
const lastItem = array[array.length - 1];Example:
const fruits = ["🍎", "🍌", "🥑"];
console.log(fruits[fruits.length - 1]); // "🥑"Edge Case Handling:
const emptyArray = [];
console.log(emptyArray[emptyArray.length - 1]); // undefined (no error)2. Using slice(-1)
Use slice(-1) to get a new array containing the last item, then extract it:
const lastItem = array.slice(-1)[0];Example:
const numbers = [10, 20, 30];
console.log(numbers.slice(-1)[0]); // 30
console.log(numbers.slice(-2)[0]); // 20 (second-last item)Note:
slice(-1)creates a new array (e.g.,[30]), so this is slightly less efficient than direct indexing.
3. Using at(-1) (Modern Browsers)
Use the at() method (ES2022+) to directly access the last item with negative indexing:
const lastItem = array.at(-1);Example:
const colors = ["red", "green", "blue"];
console.log(colors.at(-1)); // "blue"
console.log(colors.at(-2)); // "green"Caveat:
- Not supported in Internet Explorer or older browsers (use a polyfill if needed).
4. Using pop() (Not Recommended)
Use pop() to remove and return the last item (mutates the original array):
const lastItem = array.pop(); // Removes the last item!Example:
const animals = ["🐶", "🐱", "🐻"];
const last = animals.pop();
console.log(last); // "🐻"
console.log(animals); // ["🐶", "🐱"] (modified array)Avoid This unless you explicitly want to modify the array.
Comparison Table
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
array[length - 1] | Fast, universal, no mutation | Verbose syntax |
slice(-1)[0] | Readable, no mutation | Creates a new array |
at(-1) | Clean syntax, no mutation | Not supported in older browsers |
pop() | Short syntax | Mutates the array |
Best Practice
Use array[array.length - 1] for broad compatibility, or array.at(-1) in modern environments.
// Recommended approach
const array = [1, 2, 3];
const lastItem = array.at(-1) ?? array[array.length - 1];
console.log(lastItem); // 3