To get the first word of a string call the `split()` method passing it a string containing an empty space as a parameter. The `split` method will return an array containing the words from the string and then access the array at index `0` to get the first word of the string.

Get the First Word of a String in JavaScript


## Get the First Word of a String

**To get the first word of a string:**

1. Call the `split()` method passing it a string containing an empty space as a
   parameter. The `split` method will return an array containing the words in
   the string.
2. Access the array at index `0` to get the first word of the string.

```javascript:index.js
const str = 'Hello world';

const first = str.split(' ')[0]
console.log(first); // 👉️ Hello
```

<InArticleAd />

The
[String.split](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/String/split)
method splits a string into an array, based on a provided separator.

```javascript:index.js
const str = 'Hello world';

const split = str.split(' ')
console.log(split) // 👉️ ['Hello', 'world']
```

By splitting the string on the space character, we get an array containing the
words in the string.

The final step is to access the array element (word) at index `0`.

<Alert>
  Indexes are zero-based in JavaScript, meaning the index of the first element
  in the array is <code>0</code> and the index of the last element is{' '}
  <code>arr.length - 1</code>.
</Alert>

An alternative approach is to use the `shift()` method on the array to get its
first element.

```javascript:index.js
const str = 'Hello world';

const first = str.split(' ').shift();
console.log(first); // 👉️ Hello
```

The
[Array.shift](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Array/shift)
method removes and returns the first element from an array.

<Alert type="success">
  Accessing the array element at index <code>0</code> using bracket notation is
  perhaps a more direct an intuitive approach, but pick the one that works best
  for you.
</Alert>

<InArticleAd />


Get the First Word of a String in JavaScript

Get the First Word of a String #

Borislav Hadzhiev

For more articles, navigate to myHome Page

Get the First Word of a String in JavaScript