> 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`  |                    |         |

## 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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