The startsWith() Method for JavaScript Strings [Examples]

The startsWith() String method in JavaScript will determine whether a string starts with a certain string or character. Here’s how it is used, with code examples.

startsWith() Method JavaScript Syntax

The startsWith() method can be called from any String variable.

string.startsWith(SEARCH, START)

Note that:

• string can be any string value or variable
• SEARCH should be the string which you want to check if string starts with
• START is OPTIONAL
  • If specified, START will be used as the starting position when checking STRING
  • The portion of the string before START will be ignored
    • This can be useful if you want to check whether a string exists at a certain position within a string
• A boolean value of TRUE (if the string starts with the given value) or FALSE is returned

startsWith() Examples

The below examples show how the startsWith Method is used. A string variable called test is defined, and the startsWith() method is called on it.

let test = 'Use the Force, Luke.'

test.startsWith('Use the);         // true
test.startsWith('the Force');      // false
test.startsWith('the Force', 4);   // true

Note the last example supplies a start position, so that only a portion of the string is checked.