---
type: "fhirpath-function"
title: "FHIRPath Function: skip"
function: "skip"
category: "Subsetting"
section: "5.3.6"
source: "fhirpath/functions.json"
---
# FHIRPath Function: skip
Returns a collection containing all but the first `num` items in the input collection. Will return an empty collection if there are no items remaining after the indicated number of items have been skipped, or if the input collection is empty. If `num` is less than or equal to zero, the input collection is simply returned.
## Summary
- **Category**: Subsetting
- **Section**: `5.3.6`
- **Return Type**: `collection`
- **Empty Input Result**: `empty`
- **Errors on Multiple Input**: `false`
## Description
Returns a collection containing all but the first `num` items in the input collection.
## Arguments
- `num`: `Integer` - Number of items to skip
## Type Mapping
- `Any-Any`
## Example
```fhirpath
Patient.name.skip(1) // skips the first name element
```