function removeByKey(tab, val)
  local found = false
  -- Iterate through the table in reverse order
  for i = #tab, 1, -1 do
    if tab[i] == val then
      table.remove(tab, i)
      -- Remove the element at index i
      found = true
    end
  end
  -- If any elements were removed, create a new table with reset indices
  if found then
    local newTable = {}
    for i, v in ipairs(tab) do
      newTable[i] = v
    end
    return newTable
  else
    return tab
    -- Value not found, return the original table
  end
end

function removeAndRebuild(tab, index)
  -- Check if the index is valid
  if index < 1 or index > #tab then
    print("Invalid index")
    return tab
  end
  -- Remove the element at the specified index
  table.remove(tab, index)
  -- Rebuild the table without nil values
  local newTable = {}
  for i, v in ipairs(tab) do
    newTable[#newTable + 1] = v
  end
  return newTable
end