# first() Publishes the first element of a stream, then finishes. ``` func first() -> Publishers.First ``` ## Return Value A publisher that only publishes the first element of a stream. ## Discussion Use [`first()`](/documentation/Combine/Publisher/first()) to publish just the first element from an upstream publisher, then finish normally. The [`first()`](/documentation/Combine/Publisher/first()) operator requests [`unlimited`](/documentation/Combine/Subscribers/Demand/unlimited) from its upstream as soon as downstream requests at least one element. If the upstream completes before [`first()`](/documentation/Combine/Publisher/first()) receives any elements, it completes without emitting any values. In this example, the [`first()`](/documentation/Combine/Publisher/first()) publisher republishes the first element received from the sequence publisher, `-10`, then finishes normally. ``` let numbers = (-10...10) cancellable = numbers.publisher .first() .sink { print("\($0)") } // Print: "-10" ``` --- 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)