[Term Entry] JavaScript Arrays: fill()

content/javascript/concepts/arrays/terms/fill/fill.md

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+---
+Title: '.fill()'
+Description: 'Changes all elements within a range of indices in an array to a static value.'
+Subjects:
+  - 'Computer Science'
+  - 'Web Development'
+Tags:
+  - 'Arrays'
+  - 'JavaScript'
+  - 'Methods'
+  - 'Range'
+CatalogContent:
+  - 'introduction-to-javascript'
+  - 'paths/front-end-engineer-career-path'
+---
+
+JavaScript's **`array.fill()`** method changes all elements within a range of indices in an [array](https://www.codecademy.com/resources/docs/javascript/arrays) to a static value. It modifies the original array and returns the modified array, making it a mutating method that provides an efficient way to populate array elements with the same value.
+
+## Syntax
+
+```pseudo
+array.fill(value, start, end)
+```
+
+**Parameters:**
+
+- `value`: The value to fill the array elements with. All elements in the specified range will be set to this exact value.
+- `start` (optional): The zero-based index at which to start filling. If negative, it is treated as `array.length + start`. Defaults to `0`.
+- `end` (optional): The zero-based index at which to end filling (exclusive). If negative, it is treated as `array.length + end`. Defaults to `array.length`.
+
+**Return value:**
+
+The `.fill()` method returns the modified array with elements filled according to the specified parameters.
+
+## Example 1: Basic Array Filling Using `array.fill()`
+
+This example demonstrates the fundamental usage of the `.fill()` method by replacing all elements in an array with a single value:
+
+```js
+// Create an array with different values
+const numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
+
+// Fill all elements with the value 0
+numbers.fill(0);
+
+console.log(numbers);
+```
+
+The output of this code is:
+
+```shell
+[0, 0, 0, 0, 0]
+```
+
+The `.fill()` method replaces every element in the array with the specified value, transforming the original array `[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]` into `[0, 0, 0, 0, 0]`.
+
+## Example 2: Creating Default User Profiles Using `array.fill()`
+
+This example shows how `.fill()` can be used in a real-world scenario to initialize an array of user profile objects with default values:
+
+```js
+// Create an array to hold 3 user profiles
+const userProfiles = new Array(3);
+
+// Fill with default user profile objects
+userProfiles.fill({
+  name: 'New User',
+  email: '[email protected]',
+  status: 'inactive',
+});
+
+// Update one user's information
+userProfiles[0].name = 'John Doe';
+userProfiles[0].email = '[email protected]';
+
+console.log(userProfiles);
+```
+
+The output of this code is:
+
+```shell
+[
+  { name: 'John Doe', email: '[email protected]', status: 'inactive' },
+  { name: 'John Doe', email: '[email protected]', status: 'inactive' },
+  { name: 'John Doe', email: '[email protected]', status: 'inactive' }
+]
+```
+
+When using objects with `.fill()`, all array elements reference the same object. Modifying one element affects all elements because they share the same reference.
+
+## Codebyte Example: Using `array.fill()` to Initialize Game Board Sections
+
+This example demonstrates using `.fill()` with start and end parameters to initialize specific sections of a game board array:
+
+```codebyte/javascript
+// Create a game board with 10 positions
+const gameBoard = new Array(10).fill('empty');
+
+// Fill positions 2-5 with player pieces
+gameBoard.fill('player1', 2, 6);
+
+// Fill positions 7-8 with obstacles
+gameBoard.fill('obstacle', 7, 9);
+
+console.log(gameBoard);
+console.log(`Board length: ${gameBoard.length}`);
+```
+
+By specifying start and end indices, the `.fill()` method allows precise control over which elements to modify, making it ideal for initializing specific ranges within larger data structures.
+
+## Frequently Asked Questions
+
+### 1. How to fill an array in JS?
+
+Use the `.fill()` method on an existing array: `array.fill(value)`. For new arrays, create them first with `new Array(length)` or `Array(length)`, then apply `.fill()`: `new Array(5).fill('default')`.
+
+### 2. How to fill array with unique values in JavaScript?
+
+The `.fill()` method creates identical values, not unique ones. For unique values, use `Array.from()` with a mapping function: `Array.from({length: 5}, (_, index) => index + 1)` creates `[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]`.
+
+### 3. Does .fill() change the original array?
+
+Yes, `.fill()` is a mutating method that modifies the original array directly. If you need to preserve the original array, create a copy first using `[...array].fill(value)` or `Array.from(array).fill(value)`.