Want to know how to get the first element of an array using PHP’s current() function? Here’s the answer

gitbox 2025-09-29

In PHP, the current() function is typically used to return the current element of an array. However, there are times when we may want to get the first element instead. This article takes a closer look at how to use current() to access the first element of an array and understand the mechanism behind it.

Introduction to the current() Function

current() is a built-in PHP function that returns the element at the current pointer position of an array. Its syntax is as follows:

<span><span><span class="hljs-title function_ invoke__">current</span></span><span>(</span><span><span class="hljs-keyword">array</span></span><span> </span><span><span class="hljs-variable">$array</span></span><span>): </span><span><span class="hljs-keyword">mixed</span></span><span>  
</span></span>

It returns the current element of the array. If the internal pointer has been moved, current() will return the element at that position. If the pointer hasn’t been moved, it will return the first element of the array.

How current() Retrieves the First Element

In PHP, arrays are accessed using internal pointers. By default, the pointer starts at the first element of the array. The current() function returns the element that the pointer is currently referencing. Therefore, if you call current() without changing the pointer, it will return the first element.

Here’s a simple example:

<span><span><span class="hljs-meta">&lt;?php</span></span><span>  
</span><span><span class="hljs-variable">$array</span></span><span> = [</span><span><span class="hljs-number">10</span></span><span>, </span><span><span class="hljs-number">20</span></span><span>, </span><span><span class="hljs-number">30</span></span><span>, </span><span><span class="hljs-number">40</span></span><span>, </span><span><span class="hljs-number">50</span></span><span>];  
</span><span><span class="hljs-variable">$firstElement</span></span><span> = </span><span><span class="hljs-title function_ invoke__">current</span></span><span>(</span><span><span class="hljs-variable">$array</span></span><span>);  
<p></span>echo $firstElement;  // Output 10<br>
?><br>
</span>

In this example, current($array) directly returns the first element of the array $array, which is 10.

Using reset() to Ensure Access to the First Element

If you’ve already moved the array pointer (e.g., with next(), prev(), or other pointer functions), the pointer may no longer be at the first element. In this case, calling current() won’t necessarily return the first element. To fix this, you can use reset() to move the pointer back to the beginning and then call current() to retrieve the first element.

<span><span><span class="hljs-meta">&lt;?php</span></span><span>  
</span><span><span class="hljs-variable">$array</span></span><span> = [</span><span><span class="hljs-number">10</span></span><span>, </span><span><span class="hljs-number">20</span></span><span>, </span><span><span class="hljs-number">30</span></span><span>, </span><span><span class="hljs-number">40</span></span><span>, </span><span><span class="hljs-number">50</span></span><span>];  
<p></span>// Move pointer to the third element<br>
next($array);<br>
next($array);</p>
<p>$firstElement = current($array);<br>
echo $firstElement;  // Output 30</p>
<p>// Reset pointer back to the first element<br>
reset($array);<br>
$firstElement = current($array);<br>
echo $firstElement;  // Output 10<br>
?><br>
</span>

In this example, next($array) twice moves the array pointer to the element 30. Then reset($array) resets the pointer back to the first element, and finally, current($array) returns 10.

Summary

current() returns the element at the array’s current pointer position.
If the pointer hasn’t moved, it returns the first element.
If you need to get the first element after moving the pointer, use reset() to reset it and then call current().

With this approach, you can easily control array pointers and reliably retrieve the first element, even if the pointer has been moved. Hopefully, this article helps you better understand how the current() function works!