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ParentNode.firstElementChild

The ParentNode.firstElementChild read-only property returns the object's first child Element, or null if there are no child elements.

This property was initially defined in the ElementTraversal pure interface. As this interface contained two distinct set of properties, one aimed at Node that have children, one at those that are children, they have been moved into two separate pure interfaces, ParentNode and ChildNode. In this case, firstElementChild moved to ParentNode. This is a fairly technical change that shouldn't affect compatibility.

Syntax

var element = node.firstElementChild;

Example

<ul id="foo">
  <li>First  (1)</li>
  <li>Second (2)</li>
  <li>Third  (3)</li>
</ul>

<script>
var foo = document.getElementById('foo');
// yields: First  (1)
console.log(foo.firstElementChild.textContent);
</script>

Polyfill for IE8, IE9 and Safari

// Overwrites native 'firstElementChild' prototype.
// Adds Document & DocumentFragment support for IE9 & Safari.
// Returns array instead of HTMLCollection.
;(function(constructor) {
    if (constructor &&
        constructor.prototype &&
        constructor.prototype.firstElementChild == null) {
        Object.defineProperty(constructor.prototype, 'firstElementChild', {
            get: function() {
                var node, nodes = this.childNodes, i = 0;
                while (node = nodes[i++]) {
                    if (node.nodeType === 1) {
                        return node;
                    }
                }
                return null;
            }
        });
    }
})(window.Node || window.Element);

Specification

Specification	Status	Comment
DOM The definition of 'ParentNode.firstElementChild' in that specification.	Living Standard	Splitted the `ElementTraversal` interface in `ChildNode` and `ParentNode`. This method is now defined on the latter. The `Document` and `DocumentFragment` implemented the new interfaces.
Element Traversal Specification The definition of 'ElementTraversal.firstElementChild' in that specification.	Obsolete	Added its initial definition to the `ElementTraversal` pure interface and use it on `Element`.

Browser compatibilityUpdate compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari
Basic support	1	?	3.5	9	10	4
Support on `Document` and `DocumentFragment`	29	?	25	No	16	No