var array1 = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]; var array2 = []; for(var i = 0; i < array1.length; i++) { array2.push(array1[i]); array1.splice(i, 1); i--; //decrement i IF we remove an item } console.log(array1); //[] console.log(array2); //[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]