Spread syntax

The spread syntax allows an expression to be expanded in places where multiple arguments (for function calls) or multiple elements (for array literals) or multiple variables  (for destructuring assignment) are expected.

Syntax

For function calls:

myFunction(...iterableObj);

For array literals:

[...iterableObj, 4, 5, 6]

Examples

A better apply

Example: it is common to use Function.prototype.apply in cases where you want to use an array as arguments to a function.

function myFunction(x, y, z) { }
var args = [0, 1, 2];
myFunction.apply(null, args);

With ES6 spread you can now write the above as:

function myFunction(x, y, z) { }
var args = [0, 1, 2];
myFunction(...args);

Any argument in the argument list can use the spread syntax and it can be used multiple times.

function myFunction(v, w, x, y, z) { }
var args = [0, 1];
myFunction(-1, ...args, 2, ...[3]);

A more powerful array literal

Example: Today if you have an array and want to create a new array with the existing one being part of it, the array literal syntax is no longer sufficient and you have to fall back to imperative code, using a combination of push, splice, concat, etc. With spread syntax this becomes much more succinct:

var parts = ['shoulders', 'knees'];
var lyrics = ['head', ...parts, 'and', 'toes']; // ["head", "shoulders", "knees", "and", "toes"]

Just like with spread for argument lists ... can be used anywhere in the array literal and it can be used multiple times.

Apply for new

Example: In ES5 it is not possible to compose new with apply. (In ES5 terms, apply does a [[Call]] and not a [[Construct]].) In ES6 the spread syntax naturally supports this:

var dateFields = readDateFields(database);
var d = new Date(...dateFields);

Copy an array

var arr = [1,2,3];
var arr2 = [...arr]; // like arr.slice()
arr2.push(4); // arr2 becomes [1,2,3,4], arr stays unaffected

A better push

Example: push is often used to push an array to the end of an existing array. In ES5 this is often done as:

var arr1 = [0, 1, 2];
var arr2 = [3, 4, 5];
// Append all items from arr2 onto arr1
Array.prototype.push.apply(arr1, arr2);

In ES6 with spread this becomes:

var arr1 = [0, 1, 2];
var arr2 = [3, 4, 5];
arr1.push(...arr2);

Only apply for iterables

var obj = {"key1":"value1"};
function myFunction(x) {
   /* ... */
}
// attempt to spread an object (which is not an iterable)
// will cause an error
myFunction(...obj);
var args = [...obj];
// TypeError: obj is not iterable

Rest operator

Rest operator which looks exactly like the spread syntax, and is used for destructuring arrays and objects. In a way, Rest elements are the opposite of spread elements - spread elements 'expands' an array into its elements, and rest elements collects multiple elements and 'condenses' into a single element.

Specifications

Browser compatibility

See also

• Rest parameters
• Rest operator