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# basic_json::begin

    iterator begin() noexcept;
    const_iterator begin() const noexcept;

Returns an iterator to the first element.

## Return value

iterator to the first element

## Exception safety

No-throw guarantee: this member function never throws exceptions.

## Complexity

Constant.

## Example

Example

The following code shows an example for `begin()`.

    #include <iostream>
    #include <nlohmann/json.hpp>

    using json = nlohmann::json;

    int main()
    {
        // create an array value
        json array = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};

        // get an iterator to the first element
        json::iterator it = array.begin();

        // serialize the element that the iterator points to
        std::cout << *it << '\n';
    }

Output:

    1

## Version history

- Added in version 1.0.0.