{"name":"first","type":"method","title":".first()","deprecated":null,"removed":null,"desc":"Reduce the set of matched elements to the first in the set.","categories":["traversing/filtering","version/1.4"],"entries":[{"return":"jQuery","signatures":{"added":"1.4"},"examples":{"desc":"Highlight the first span in a paragraph.","css":"\n .highlight{\n background-color: yellow\n }\n","code":"\n$( \"p span\" ).first().addClass( \"highlight\" );\n","html":"\n

\n Look:\n This is some text in a paragraph.\n This is a note about it.\n

\n"},"longdesc":"\n

Given a jQuery object that represents a set of DOM elements, the .first() method constructs a new jQuery object from the first element in that set.

\n

Consider a page with a simple list on it:

\n 
\n<ul>\n  <li>list item 1</li>\n  <li>list item 2</li>\n  <li>list item 3</li>\n  <li>list item 4</li>\n  <li>list item 5</li>\n</ul>\n
\n

We can apply this method to the set of list items:

\n 
\n$( \"li\" ).first().css( \"background-color\", \"red\" );\n
\n

The result of this call is a red background for the first item.

\n "}]}