<!--
{
  "availability" : [
    "iOS: 8.0.0 -",
    "iPadOS: 8.0.0 -",
    "macCatalyst: 13.0.0 -",
    "macOS: 10.10.0 -",
    "tvOS: 9.0.0 -",
    "visionOS: 1.0.0 -",
    "watchOS: 2.0.0 -"
  ],
  "documentType" : "symbol",
  "framework" : "Swift",
  "identifier" : "/documentation/Swift/UnsafeMutableBufferPointer/first",
  "metadataVersion" : "0.1.0",
  "role" : "Instance Property",
  "symbol" : {
    "kind" : "Instance Property",
    "modules" : [
      "Swift"
    ],
    "preciseIdentifier" : "s:SlsE5first7ElementQzSgvp::SYNTHESIZED::s:Sr"
  },
  "title" : "first"
}
-->

# first

The first element of the collection.

```
var first: Self.Element? { get }
```

## Discussion

If the collection is empty, the value of this property is `nil`.

```
let numbers = [10, 20, 30, 40, 50]
if let firstNumber = numbers.first {
    print(firstNumber)
}
// Prints "10"
```

---

Copyright &copy; 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)