# <small>nlohmann::basic_json::</small>cbegin

```cpp
const_iterator cbegin() const noexcept;
```

Returns an iterator to the first element.

<div class="nj-fig-wrap" markdown>
--8<-- "images/range-begin-end.svg"
</div>

<p class="nj-caption" markdown>`cbegin()` points to the first element, like `begin()`, and `end()` to the position after
the last element; the dashed cell is the past-the-last position, which must not be dereferenced.</p>

## Return value

iterator to the first element

## Exception safety

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

## Complexity

Constant.

## Examples

??? example

    The following code shows an example for `cbegin()`.
    
    ```cpp
    --8<-- "examples/cbegin.cpp"
    ```
    
    Output:
    
    ```json
    --8<-- "examples/cbegin.output"
    ```

## See also

- [`begin`](begin.md) - returns an iterator to the first element
- [`cend`](cend.md) - returns a const iterator to one past the last element
- [`crbegin`](crbegin.md) - returns a const reverse iterator to the last element
- [Iterators](../../features/iterators.md) - the article on iterators
- [`basic_json_view::cbegin`](../basic_json_view/cbegin.md) - the same iteration on a zero-copy view

## Version history

- Added in version 1.0.0.