.first()


.first()Returns: jQuery

Description: Reduce the set of matched elements to the first in the set.

  • version added: 1.4.first()

    • This method does not accept any arguments.

Given a jQuery object that represents a set of DOM elements, the .first() method constructs a new jQuery object from the first element in that set.

Consider a page with a simple list on it:

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<ul>
<li>list item 1</li>
<li>list item 2</li>
<li>list item 3</li>
<li>list item 4</li>
<li>list item 5</li>
</ul>

We can apply this method to the set of list items:

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$( "li" ).first().css( "background-color", "red" );

The result of this call is a red background for the first item.

Example:

Highlight the first span in a paragraph.

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<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>first demo</title>
<style>
.highlight{
background-color: yellow
}
</style>
<script src="jquery-1.10.2.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
<p>
<span>Look:</span>
<span>This is some text in a paragraph.</span>
<span>This is a note about it.</span>
</p>
<script>
$( "p span" ).first().addClass( "highlight" );
</script>
</body>
</html>

Demo: