# jQuery.merge()

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

- first
  Type: Array
  The first array to merge, the elements of second added.

- second
  Type: Array
  The second array to merge into the first, unaltered.

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

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 first parameter to add the 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:

    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:

#### Example: Merges two arrays, altering the first argument.

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

#### Example: Merges two arrays, altering the first argument.

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

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

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