element Function

element retrieves a single element from a list.

element(list, index)

The index is zero-based. This function produces an error if used with an empty list. The index must be a non-negative integer.

Use the built-in index syntax list[index] in most cases. Use this function only for the special additional "wrap-around" behavior described below.

Examples

> element(["a", "b", "c"], 1)
b

If the given index is greater than the length of the list then the index is "wrapped around" by taking the index modulo the length of the list:

> element(["a", "b", "c"], 3)
a

To get the last element from the list use length to find the size of the list (minus 1 as the list is zero-based) and then pick the last element:

> element(["a", "b", "c"], length(["a", "b", "c"])-1)
c

Related Functions

• index finds the index for a particular element value.
• lookup retrieves a value from a map given its key.