# firstMatch(in:) Returns the first match for this regex found in the given string. ``` func firstMatch(in string: String) throws -> Regex

.Match? ``` ## Parameters `string` The string to match this regular expression against. ## Return Value The match, if one is found; otherwise, `nil`. ## Discussion Use the `firstMatch(in:)` method to search for the first occurrence of this regular expression in `string`. This example searches for the first sequence of digits that occurs in a string: ``` let digits = /[0-9]+/ if let digitsMatch = try digits.firstMatch(in: "The year is 2022; last year was 2021.") { print(digitsMatch.0) } else { print("No match.") } // Prints "2022" ``` The `firstMatch(in:)` method can throw an error if this regex includes a transformation closure that throws an error. --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)