.first()Returns: jQuery
Description: Reduce the set of matched elements to the first in the set.
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.
Consider a page with a simple list on it:
<ul> <li>list item 1</li> <li>list item 2</li> <li>list item 3</li> <li>list item 4</li> <li>list item 5</li> </ul>
We can apply this method to the set of list items:
$( "li" ).first().css( "background-color", "red" );
The result of this call is a red background for the first item.
Example:
Highlight the first span in a paragraph.
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>first demo</title>
<style>
.highlight{
background-color: yellow
}
</style>
<script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-1.10.2.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
<p>
<span>Look:</span>
<span>This is some text in a paragraph.</span>
<span>This is a note about it.</span>
</p>
<script>
$( "p span" ).first().addClass( "highlight" );
</script>
</body>
</html>