.first()

first ( ) Returns: jQueryversion added: 1.4

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.

Examples:

Example: Highlight the first span in a paragraph. 

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <title>css demo</title>

  <style>

  .highlight{
    background-color: yellow
  }

  </style>

  <script src="//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>

Demo: