# Get a random item and remove it from an array

Remove one random item from the array and return it.

Canonical: https://1loc.dev/random/get-a-random-item-and-remove-it-from-an-array/
Version: 1.0.0
Runtime: JavaScript · Node.js 22 / modern browsers
Verification: Usage lines executed in Node.js 22 and headless Chromium; no external services
Updated: 2026-10-28

## Implementation

```javascript
function takeRandomItem(values) { return values.splice(Math.floor(Math.random() * values.length), 1)[0]; }
```

## Usage

```javascript
const pool = ['ana', 'rui', 'lia'];
const picked = takeRandomItem(pool);
pool.length; // → 2
pool.includes(picked); // → false
takeRandomItem([]); // → undefined
```

Lines marked → were executed in Node.js 22 and in headless Chromium, and each result was compared with the value shown. Lines marked e.g. are illustrative.

## Limits

- Mutates the array. The original returned the one-item array from splice, such as [7], not the item; [0] unwraps it.
- Removing from the middle is O(n). To draw many items, shuffle once and pop.

The function does not validate its arguments. Add checks where it receives untrusted input.

## Source and license

Original: https://github.com/phuocng/1loc/blob/14b481cf60dff1620ab1bb99a43b1f68068cdd9b/contents/get-a-random-item-and-remove-it-from-an-array.mdx
Source file (this edition): https://github.com/akamind/1loc/blob/0a77f131b22d2ba3b7ec1728846f900c22821678/contents/get-a-random-item-and-remove-it-from-an-array.mdx
Author: Nguyen Huu Phuoc and original contributors
Contributors: See original repository history
Source commit: 14b481cf60dff1620ab1bb99a43b1f68068cdd9b
Copyright (c) 2020 phuoc-ng
License: MIT — https://1loc.dev/licenses/
Maintainer: Oveyon
Modifications: Returns the item; the original returned a one-item array. Documented as a reference with executed usage lines. Original MDX retained as inert source evidence.