Array Deletion at End in DSA Javascript - Time & Space Complexity

Time Complexity: Array Deletion at End

O(1)

Understanding Time Complexity

We want to understand how fast it is to remove an item from the end of an array.

How does the time needed change when the array gets bigger?

Scenario Under Consideration

Analyze the time complexity of the following code snippet.

const arr = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
arr.pop();
console.log(arr);
    

This code removes the last item from the array and then prints the updated array.

Identify Repeating Operations

Identify the loops, recursion, array traversals that repeat.

• Primary operation: Removing the last element using pop()
• How many times: Once per pop() call, no loops or recursion involved

How Execution Grows With Input

Removing the last item takes the same short time no matter how big the array is.

Input Size (n)	Approx. Operations
10	1
100	1
1000	1

Pattern observation: The time stays constant even if the array grows larger.

Final Time Complexity

Time Complexity: O(1)

This means removing the last item takes the same small amount of time no matter how big the array is.

Common Mistake

[X] Wrong: "Removing the last item takes longer if the array is bigger because it has to shift all elements."

[OK] Correct: When removing from the end, no elements need to move. Only the last item is removed, so time stays the same.

Interview Connect

Knowing that removing from the end is very fast helps you choose the right data structure and method in real problems.

Self-Check

"What if we changed to removing the first item instead? How would the time complexity change?"

Practice

1. What does the pop() method do to an array in JavaScript?

easy

A. Returns the length of the array without modifying it

B. Removes the last element from the array and returns it

C. Adds a new element to the end of the array

D. Removes the first element from the array and returns it

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the pop() method

   The pop() method removes the last element from an array and returns that element.

2. Step 2: Compare with other array methods

   Unlike shift() which removes the first element, pop() targets the end of the array.

3. Final Answer:

   Removes the last element from the array and returns it -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   pop() removes last element [OK]

Hint: pop() always removes the last item from the array [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing pop() with shift() which removes the first element
• Thinking pop() adds elements instead of removing
• Assuming pop() returns the array length

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to remove the last element from an array named arr?

easy

A. pop(arr);

B. arr.removeLast();

C. arr.pop();

D. arr.deleteLast();

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the correct method for array end deletion

   JavaScript arrays use the pop() method to remove the last element.

2. Step 2: Check method call syntax

   The correct syntax is calling pop() directly on the array object: arr.pop();

3. Final Answer:

   arr.pop(); -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Use arr.pop() to remove last element [OK]

Hint: Use arr.pop() to remove last element [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using non-existent methods like removeLast() or deleteLast()
• Calling pop() as a standalone function instead of on the array
• Using incorrect syntax like pop(arr)

3. What will be the output of the following code?

const arr = [10, 20, 30, 40];
const removed = arr.pop();
console.log(arr);
console.log(removed);

medium

A. [10, 20, 30, 40] and 30

B. [10, 20, 30, 40] and 40

C. [10, 20, 30] and 30

D. [10, 20, 30] and 40

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand pop() effect on array

   The pop() method removes the last element (40) from arr and returns it.

2. Step 2: Check the console outputs

   After popping, arr becomes [10, 20, 30] and removed stores 40.

3. Final Answer:

   [10, 20, 30] and 40 -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   pop() removes last element and returns it [OK]

Hint: pop() returns removed last element, array shrinks by one [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting pop() to remove first element
• Confusing returned value with new last element
• Thinking array remains unchanged after pop()

4. Identify the error in the following code that tries to remove the last element from an array:

const numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4];
numbers.pop(2);
console.log(numbers);

medium

A. pop() does not take any arguments; passing 2 is incorrect

B. pop() should be called as pop(numbers)

C. pop() removes the first element, so this code is wrong

D. pop() returns the new array, so console.log will be empty

Solution

1. Step 1: Check pop() method signature

   The pop() method does not accept any arguments; it always removes the last element.

2. Step 2: Analyze the code behavior

   Passing 2 as an argument does nothing and is incorrect usage, but JavaScript ignores it and still removes the last element.

3. Final Answer:

   pop() does not take any arguments; passing 2 is incorrect -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   pop() takes no arguments [OK]

Hint: pop() never needs arguments to remove last element [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Passing arguments to pop() expecting to remove specific elements
• Calling pop() as a standalone function
• Assuming pop() removes first element

5. Given the array let fruits = ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry', 'date'];, which code snippet correctly removes the last two elements and stores them in a new array removedFruits in the same order as they appeared in the original array?

hard

A. const removedFruits = fruits.splice(-2);

B. const removedFruits = fruits.pop(2);

C. const removedFruits = [fruits.pop(), fruits.pop()];

D. const removedFruits = fruits.shift(2);

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand pop() vs splice() for multiple deletions

   The pop() method removes only one element at a time. To remove multiple elements, splice() is used.

2. Step 2: Analyze each option

   const removedFruits = [fruits.pop(), fruits.pop()]; removes two elements but stores them in reverse order; const removedFruits = fruits.pop(2); is invalid as pop() takes no arguments; const removedFruits = fruits.splice(-2); correctly removes last two elements and returns them as an array in original order; const removedFruits = fruits.shift(2); uses shift() incorrectly.

3. Final Answer:

   const removedFruits = fruits.splice(-2); -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   splice(-2) removes last two elements as array [OK]

Hint: Use splice(-2) to remove last two elements at once [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using pop() with arguments to remove multiple elements
• Confusing shift() with pop() for end deletion
• Expecting pop() to return an array of removed elements