---
title: removeFirst()
framework: swift
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Method
path: swift/string/removefirst()
---

# removeFirst()

Removes and returns the first element of the collection.

## Declaration

```swift
@discardableResult mutating func removeFirst() -> Self.Element
```

## Return Value

Return Value The removed element.

## Discussion

Discussion The collection must not be empty. var bugs = ["Aphid", "Bumblebee", "Cicada", "Damselfly", "Earwig"] bugs.removeFirst() print(bugs) // Prints "["Bumblebee", "Cicada", "Damselfly", "Earwig"]" Calling this method may invalidate any existing indices for use with this collection. note: O(n), where n is the length of the collection.

## See Also

### Removing Substrings

- [remove(at:)](swift/string/remove(at:).md)
- [remove(at:)](swift/string/remove(at:)-5g0wm.md)
- [removeAll(keepingCapacity:)](swift/string/removeall(keepingcapacity:).md)
- [removeAll(where:)](swift/string/removeall(where:).md)
- [removeFirst(_:)](swift/string/removefirst(_:).md)
- [removeLast()](swift/string/removelast().md)
- [removeLast(_:)](swift/string/removelast(_:).md)
- [removeSubrange(_:)](swift/string/removesubrange(_:).md)
- [removeSubrange(_:)](swift/string/removesubrange(_:)-8maxn.md)
- [removeSubrange(_:)](swift/string/removesubrange(_:)-9twng.md)
- [drop(while:)](swift/string/drop(while:).md)
- [dropFirst(_:)](swift/string/dropfirst(_:).md)
- [dropLast(_:)](swift/string/droplast(_:).md)
- [popLast()](swift/string/poplast().md)