---
title: "skipForward(by:)"
framework: swift
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Method
path: "swift/utf8span/characteriterator/skipforward(by:)"
---

# skipForward(by:)

Advance currentCodeUnitOffset to the end of n Characters, without constructing them.

## Declaration

```swift
mutating func skipForward(by n: Int) -> Int
```

## Discussion

Discussion Returns the number of Characters skipped over, which can be fewer than n if at the end of the UTF8Span.