---
type: "fhirpath-function"
title: "FHIRPath Function: first"
function: "first"
category: "Subsetting"
section: "5.3.3"
source: "fhirpath/functions.json"
---
# FHIRPath Function: first
Returns a collection containing only the first item in the input collection. This function is equivalent to `item[0]`, so it will return an empty collection if the input collection has no items.
## Summary
- **Category**: Subsetting
- **Section**: `5.3.3`
- **Return Type**: `collection`
- **Empty Input Result**: `empty`
- **Errors on Multiple Input**: `false`
## Description
Returns a collection containing only the first item in the input collection. This function is equivalent to `item[0]`.
## Arguments
- none
## Type Mapping
- `Any-Any`
## Example
```fhirpath
Patient.name.first() // returns the first name element
```