---
title: "Native array_first() and array_last() Functions in PHP 8.5"
url: https://daily.dev/posts/native-array-first-and-array-last-functions-in-php-8-5-1c2int2f5
source_url: https://laravel-news.com/native-array-first-and-array-last-functions-in-php-85
type: article
source: "Laravel News"
published: 2025-07-02T13:07:20.410Z
updated: 2025-07-02T13:07:44.836Z
tags: ["php", "laravel", "symfony"]
reading_time: 5
upvotes: 10
comments: 0
language: en
---

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# Native array_first() and array_last() Functions in PHP 8.5

**[Laravel News](https://daily.dev/sources/ln)** · 5 min read · 10 upvotes · 0 comments

## Summary

PHP 8.5 introduces native array_first() and array_last() functions to retrieve the first and last elements from arrays. These functions address long-standing challenges with existing solutions like reset() and end() that modify array iterators or require cumbersome workarounds. The functions return null for empty arrays and work with any array structure regardless of key types. Popular frameworks like Laravel and Symfony already provide similar functionality through helper methods and polyfills.

## Full article

daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: <https://laravel-news.com/native-array-first-and-array-last-functions-in-php-85>

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---

Tags: [#php](https://daily.dev/tags/php), [#laravel](https://daily.dev/tags/laravel), [#symfony](https://daily.dev/tags/symfony)

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