---
type: "fhirpath-function"
title: "FHIRPath Function: take"
function: "take"
category: "Subsetting"
section: "5.3.7"
source: "fhirpath/functions.json"
---
# FHIRPath Function: take
Returns a collection containing the first `num` items in the input collection, or less if there are less than `num` items. If num is less than or equal to 0, or if the input collection is empty (`{ }`), `take` returns an empty collection.
## Summary
- **Category**: Subsetting
- **Section**: `5.3.7`
- **Return Type**: `collection`
- **Empty Input Result**: `empty`
- **Errors on Multiple Input**: `false`
## Description
Returns a collection containing the first `num` items in the input collection, or less if there are less than `num` items. If num is less than or equal to 0, `take` returns an empty collection.
## Arguments
- `num`: `Integer` - Number of items to take
## Type Mapping
- `Any-Any`
## Example
```fhirpath
Patient.name.take(2) // takes the first 2 name elements
```