JavaScript String substring()
Examples
Extract a substring from text:
let text = "Hello world!";
let result = text.substring(1, 4);
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let result = text.substring(1, 4);
Start from position 2:
let result = text.substring(2);
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More examples below.
Description
The substring() method extracts characters, between two indices (positions), from a string,
and returns the substring.
The substring() method extracts characters from start to end (exclusive).
The substring() method does not change the original string.
If start is greater than end, arguments are swapped: (4, 1) = (1, 4).
Start or end values less than 0, are treated as 0.
Syntax
string.substring(start, end)
Parameters
Parameter
Description
start
Required.
Start position.
First character is at index 0.
Start position.
First character is at index 0.
end
Optional.
End position (up to, but not including).
If omitted: the rest of the string.
End position (up to, but not including).
If omitted: the rest of the string.
Return Value
Type
Description
A string A string containing the extracted characters.
More Examples
If start is greater than end, parameters are swapped:
let result = text.substring(4, 1);
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If "start" is less than 0, it will start from index 0:
let result = text.substring(-3);
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Only the first:
let result = text.substring(0, 1);
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Only the last:
let result = text.substring(text.length - 1);
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Browser Support
substring() is an ECMAScript1 (JavaScript 1997) feature.
It is supported in all browsers:
| Chrome | Edge | Firefox | Safari | Opera | IE |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |