---
title: skipBack()
framework: swift
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Method
path: swift/utf8span/characteriterator/skipback()
---

# skipBack()

Move currentCodeUnitOffset to the start of the previous Character, without constructing it.

## Declaration

```swift
mutating func skipBack() -> Int
```

## Discussion

Discussion Returns the number of Characters skipped over, which can be 0 if at the start of the UTF8Span.