Web/API/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.
;(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
DOMThe definition of 'ParentNode.firstElementChild' in that specification.	Living Standard	Split 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 SpecificationThe definition of 'ElementTraversal.firstElementChild' in that specification.	Obsolete	Added its initial definition to the `ElementTraversal` pure interface and use it on `Element`.

Browser compatibility

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet
`firstElementChild`	Chrome Full support 1	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 3.5	IE Full support 9	Opera Full support 10	Safari Full support 4	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support 4	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support Yes	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes
Support on `Document` and `DocumentFragment` Experimental'	Chrome Full support 29	Edge Full support ≤79	Firefox Full support 25	IE No support No	Opera Full support 16	Safari No support No	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android ?	Opera Android ?	Safari iOS No support No	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support
Compatibility unknown: Compatibility unknown
Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.': Experimental. Expect behavior to change in the future.