## jQuery.merge( first, second )Returns: Array

Description: Merge the contents of two arrays together into the first array.

- #### version added: 1.0 jQuery.merge( first, second )

  - first
    Type: ArrayLikeObject
    The first array-like object to merge, the elements of second added.
  - second
    Type: ArrayLikeObject
    The second array-like object to merge into the first, unaltered.

The `$.merge()` operation forms an array that contains all elements from the two arrays. The orders of items in the arrays are preserved, with items from the second array appended. The `$.merge()` function is destructive. It alters the `length` and numeric index properties of the first object to include items from the second.

If you need the original first array, make a copy of it before calling `$.merge()`. Fortunately, `$.merge()` itself can be used for this duplication:

1 |
    var newArray = $.merge([], oldArray);

This shortcut creates a new, empty array and merges the contents of oldArray into it, effectively cloning the array.

Prior to jQuery 1.4, the arguments should be true Javascript Array objects; use `$.makeArray` if they are not.

## Examples:

Merges two arrays, altering the first argument.

1 |
    $.merge( [ 0, 1, 2 ], [ 2, 3, 4 ] )

#### Result:

1 |
    [ 0, 1, 2, 2, 3, 4 ]

Merges two arrays, altering the first argument.

1 |
    $.merge( [ 3, 2, 1 ], [ 4, 3, 2 ] )

#### Result:

1 |
    [ 3, 2, 1, 4, 3, 2 ]

Merges two arrays, but uses a copy, so the original isn't altered.

1 2 3 |
    var first = [ "a", "b", "c" ];var second = [ "d", "e", "f" ];$.merge( $.merge( [], first ), second );

#### Result:

1 |
    [ "a", "b", "c", "d", "e", "f" ]