---
title: startIndex
framework: swift
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Property
path: swift/contiguousarray/startindex
---

# startIndex

The position of the first element in a nonempty array.

## Declaration

```swift
var startIndex: Int { get }
```

## Discussion

Discussion For an instance of ContiguousArray, startIndex is always zero. If the array is empty, startIndex is equal to endIndex.