Return the first UTF-16 code unit of a string.
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> Return the first n UTF-16 code units of a string.
``bash`
npm install @stdlib/string-base-first
`javascript`
var first = require( '@stdlib/string-base-first' );
#### first( str, n )
Returns the first n UTF-16 code units of a string.
`javascript
var out = first( 'last man standing', 1 );
// returns 'l'
out = first( 'Hidden Treasures', 1 );
// returns 'H'
out = first( 'foo bar', 5 );
// returns 'foo b'
out = first( 'foo bar', 10 );
// returns 'foo bar'
`
`javascript
var first = require( '@stdlib/string-base-first' );
var str = first( 'presidential election', 1 );
// returns 'p'
str = first( 'JavaScript', 1 );
// returns 'J'
str = first( 'The Last of the Mohicans', 5 );
// returns 'The L'
`
*
- [@stdlib/string-base/first-code-point][@stdlib/string/base/first-code-point]: return the first Unicode code point of a string.
- [@stdlib/string-base/first-grapheme-cluster][@stdlib/string/base/first-grapheme-cluster]: return the first grapheme cluster (i.e., user-perceived character) of a string.
- [@stdlib/string-base/last][@stdlib/string/base/last]: return the last UTF-16 code unit of a string.
- [@stdlib/string-base/remove-first][@stdlib/string/base/remove-first]: remove the first UTF-16 code unit of a string.
- [@stdlib/string-first][@stdlib/string/first]: return the first character(s) of a string.
*
This package is part of [stdlib][stdlib], a standard library for JavaScript and Node.js, with an emphasis on numerical and scientific computing. The library provides a collection of robust, high performance libraries for mathematics, statistics, streams, utilities, and more.
For more information on the project, filing bug reports and feature requests, and guidance on how to develop [stdlib][stdlib], see the main project [repository][stdlib].
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---
See [LICENSE][stdlib-license].
Copyright © 2016-2026. The Stdlib [Authors][stdlib-authors].
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[umd]: https://github.com/umdjs/umd
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[deno-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/string-base-first/tree/deno
[deno-readme]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/string-base-first/blob/deno/README.md
[umd-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/string-base-first/tree/umd
[umd-readme]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/string-base-first/blob/umd/README.md
[esm-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/string-base-first/tree/esm
[esm-readme]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/string-base-first/blob/esm/README.md
[branches-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/string-base-first/blob/main/branches.md
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[@stdlib/string/base/first-code-point]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/string-base-first-code-point
[@stdlib/string/base/first-grapheme-cluster]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/string-base-first-grapheme-cluster
[@stdlib/string/base/last]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/string-base-last
[@stdlib/string/base/remove-first]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/string-base-remove-first
[@stdlib/string/first]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/string-first