> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://boxlang.ortusbooks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://boxlang.ortusbooks.com/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayshift.md).

# ArrayShift

Removes the first element from an array and returns the removed element.

This method changes the length of the array. If used on an empty array, an exception will be thrown.

## Method Signature

```
ArrayShift(array=[modifiablearray], defaultValue=[any])
```

### Arguments

| Argument       | Type              | Required | Description                                                                                         | Default |
| -------------- | ----------------- | -------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- |
| `array`        | `modifiablearray` | `true`   | The array to shift                                                                                  |         |
| `defaultValue` | `any`             | `false`  | The value to return when the array is empty. If omitted, an exception is thrown for an empty array. |         |

## Examples

### Example with simple values

Take an array of numbers and shift the first one off.

[Run Example](https://try.boxlang.io/?code=eJxLLCpSsFWIVuDiNNTh4jQCYmOuWGuu1BygaGJRUWJlcEZmWokGiK2gac1VXpRZkupfWlJQChQDKgIKAQAmphH6)

```java
arr = [ 
	1,
	2,
	3
];
el = arrayShift( arr );
writeOutput( el );

```

Result: 1

### Using a member function

This is the same example as above, but using a member function on the array instead of a standalone function.

[Run Example](https://try.boxlang.io/?code=eJxLLCpSsFWIVuDiNNTh4jQCYmOuWGuu1BygaGJRkV5xRmZaiYamNVd5UWZJqn9pSUFpiYYCUBooBAC5dg%2Fp)

```java
arr = [ 
	1,
	2,
	3
];
el = arr.shift();
writeOutput( el );

```

Result: 1

### Additional Examples

[Run Example](https://try.boxlang.io/?code=eJzLK81NSi0qVrBViFbg4jTU4eI0AmJjIDbhirXmciwqSqwMzshMK9FQyIMq1bTmcinNLUAWUNDXV%2FAvLSkoLSlWMOTKzS9K9UOYy8VpCjTODIjNgdgC3Vhk1QSMNuXKQzZWKT8vVQlopFJJeT6EzihKhYik5ZcWKZHgAS5ka4DGcgEAWb5Q%2BA%3D%3D)

```java
numbers = [ 
	1,
	2,
	3,
	4
];
ArrayShift( numbers );
Dump( numbers ); // Outputs 1
moreNumbers = [
	5,
	6,
	7,
	8
];
ArrayShift( moreNumbers );
Dump( numbers ); // Outputs 5
numbers = [
	"one",
	"two",
	"three",
	"four"
];
ArrayShift( numbers );
Dump( numbers );
 // Outputs one

```

## Related

* [ArrayAppend](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayappend.md)
* [ArrayAvg](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayavg.md)
* [ArrayChunk](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraychunk.md)
* [ArrayClear](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayclear.md)
* [ArrayContains](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraycontains.md)
* [ArrayContainsNoCase](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraycontainsnocase.md)
* [ArrayDelete](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraydelete.md)
* [ArrayDeleteAt](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraydeleteat.md)
* [ArrayDeleteNoCase](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraydeletenocase.md)
* [ArrayEach](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayeach.md)
* [ArrayEvery](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayevery.md)
* [ArrayFilter](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayfilter.md)
* [ArrayFind](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayfind.md)
* [ArrayFindAll](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayfindall.md)
* [ArrayFindAllNoCase](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayfindallnocase.md)
* [ArrayFindFirst](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayfindfirst.md)
* [ArrayFindNoCase](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayfindnocase.md)
* [ArrayFirst](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayfirst.md)
* [ArrayFlatMap](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayflatmap.md)
* [ArrayFlatten](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayflatten.md)
* [ArrayGetMetadata](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraygetmetadata.md)
* [ArrayGroupBy](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraygroupby.md)
* [ArrayIndexExists](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayindexexists.md)
* [ArrayInsertAt](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayinsertat.md)
* [ArrayIsDefined](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayisdefined.md)
* [ArrayLast](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraylast.md)
* [ArrayMap](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraymap.md)
* [ArrayMax](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraymax.md)
* [ArrayMedian](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraymedian.md)
* [ArrayMerge](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraymerge.md)
* [ArrayMid](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraymid.md)
* [ArrayMin](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraymin.md)
* [ArrayNew](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraynew.md)
* [ArrayNone](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraynone.md)
* [ArrayPop](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraypop.md)
* [ArrayPrepend](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayprepend.md)
* [ArrayPush](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraypush.md)
* [ArrayRange](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayrange.md)
* [ArrayReduce](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayreduce.md)
* [ArrayReduceRight](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayreduceright.md)
* [ArrayReject](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayreject.md)
* [ArrayResize](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayresize.md)
* [ArrayReverse](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayreverse.md)
* [ArraySet](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayset.md)
* [ArraySlice](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayslice.md)
* [ArraySome](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraysome.md)
* [ArraySort](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraysort.md)
* [ArraySplice](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraysplice.md)
* [ArraySum](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraysum.md)
* [ArraySwap](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayswap.md)
* [ArrayToList](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraytolist.md)
* [ArrayToStruct](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraytostruct.md)
* [ArrayTranspose](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arraytranspose.md)
* [ArrayUnique](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayunique.md)
* [ArrayUnshift](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayunshift.md)
* [ArrayZip](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/array/arrayzip.md)


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