-- remove the last element in the table = default
   t = {[1]='one',[2]='two',[3]='three'}
   table.remove(t)
   trace(t[3]) --> nil
   trace(t)    --> {[1]='one',[2]='two'}
   
   -- remove the second element
   t = {[1]='one',[2]='I am an impostor',[3]='two'}
   table.remove(t,2)
   trace(t[2]) --> "two"   
   trace(t)    --> {[1]='one',[2]='two'}
   
   -- alternatively you can remove an element by setting it to nil

   -- remove the last element by setting it to nil
   t = {[1]='one',[2]='two',[3]='three'}
   t[3] = nil
   trace(t)
   
   -- remove the second element by setting it to nil
   t = {[1]='one',[2]='I am an impostor',[3]='two'}
   t[2] = nil
   trace(t)
   
   -- sparse tables/arrays may not behave as expected
   
   -- only one element [3] is empty 
   -- then [4] is decremented to [3]
   t = {[1]='one',[2]='two',[4]='three'}
   table.remove(t,2)
   trace(t[2]) --> nil
   trace(t)    --> {[1]='one',[3]='three'}
   
   -- two empty elements [3] & [4]
   -- then [5] is not decremented to [4]
   t = {[1]='one',[2]='two',[5]='three'}
   table.remove(t,2)
   trace(t[2]) --> nil
   trace(t[3]) --> nil
   trace(t[4]) --> nil
   trace(t)    --> {[1]='one',[5]='three'}