JavaScript Array.splice() method first argument(starting index)

Question

I was reading about .splice() method in MDN. When I got to the first parameter(starting index) I understood all cases but the last one.
What does "and will be set to 0 if absolute value is greater than the length of the array" exactly means?

Parameters

start
Index at which to start changing the array (with origin 0). If greater than the length of the array, actual starting index will be set to the length of the array. If negative, will begin that many elements from the end of the array (with origin -1) and will be set to 0 if absolute value is greater than the length of the array.

Link to the documentation

What part don't you understand? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_value — SLaks
– SLaks, Commented Dec 4, 2017 at 22:36
If you have a 5-entry array and you pass -15 as the first argument, it treats it as if you passed 0. — Pointy
– Pointy, Commented Dec 4, 2017 at 22:37

Eli Richardson · Accepted Answer · 2017-12-04 22:38:26Z

1

If the absolute value is greater than the array length it will do the same thing as if you passed 0.

var arr = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6];
arr.splice(-8, 1); 
// Absolute value is 8, array length is 7
// Because 8 > 7, the first parameter is set to 0
// So this is the same as arr.splice(0, 1);

console.log(arr);

answered Dec 4, 2017 at 22:38

Eli Richardson

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