# Push/pop element to array (PATCH request)
**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/push-pop-element-to-array-patch-request/266136
**Category:** Elastic Search
**Tags:** elastic-app-search
**Created:** [March 3, 2021, 3:28pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/push-pop-element-to-array-patch-request/266136 "2021-03-03T15:28:44Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Lautaro](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Lautaro)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2021, 3:28pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/push-pop-element-to-array-patch-request/266136/1 "2021-03-03T15:28:44Z")
How can I add or delete elements from an array without having to query the document to update them programmatically (modifying the queried document to update the array with a back-end language)?
The documentation does not show how to update arrays inside the box.
[[Documents API | Elastic App Search Documentation [8.4] | Elastic](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/app-search/current/documents.html#documents-partial)]([https://Update](https://Update) Documents)
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### Author:  [@constancecchen](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/constancecchen)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2021, 12:00am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/push-pop-element-to-array-patch-request/266136/2 "2021-03-04T00:00:15Z")
Hey Lautaro! You're correct that we don't have any APIs specifically for pushing onto existing arrays. You do need to first GET the document/field that you want to update & modify it manually or on your own server before updating/PATCHing the document.
Apologies I couldn't be more helpful - I can definitely bring this feedback to the team if there's more demand for tools and helpers for working with more complex types!
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### Author:  [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2021, 12:00am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/push-pop-element-to-array-patch-request/266136/3 "2021-04-01T00:00:40Z")
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