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

# startIndex

The position of the first character in a nonempty string.

## Declaration

```swift
var startIndex: String.Index { get }
```

## Discussion

Discussion In an empty string, startIndex is equal to endIndex.

## See Also

### Manipulating Indices

- [endIndex](swift/string/endindex.md)
- [index(after:)](swift/string/index(after:).md)
- [formIndex(after:)](swift/string/formindex(after:).md)
- [index(before:)](swift/string/index(before:).md)
- [formIndex(before:)](swift/string/formindex(before:).md)
- [index(_:offsetBy:)](swift/string/index(_:offsetby:).md)
- [index(_:offsetBy:limitedBy:)](swift/string/index(_:offsetby:limitedby:).md)
- [formIndex(_:offsetBy:)](swift/string/formindex(_:offsetby:).md)
- [formIndex(_:offsetBy:limitedBy:)](swift/string/formindex(_:offsetby:limitedby:).md)
- [distance(from:to:)](swift/string/distance(from:to:).md)
- [indices](swift/string/indices-swift.property.md)