---
title: "dropFirst(_:)"
framework: swift
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Method
path: "swift/anyregexoutput/dropfirst(_:)"
---

# dropFirst(_:)

Returns a subsequence containing all but the given number of initial elements.

## Declaration

```swift
func dropFirst(_ k: Int = 1) -> Self.SubSequence
```

## Parameters

- `k`: The number of elements to drop from the beginning of the collection. k must be greater than or equal to zero.

## Return Value

Return Value A subsequence starting after the specified number of elements.

## Discussion

Discussion If the number of elements to drop exceeds the number of elements in the collection, the result is an empty subsequence. let numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] print(numbers.dropFirst(2)) // Prints "[3, 4, 5]" print(numbers.dropFirst(10)) // Prints "[]" note: O(1) if the collection conforms to RandomAccessCollection; otherwise, O(k), where k is the number of elements to drop from the beginning of the collection.