npm package: @stdlib/iter-head
Description: Create an iterator which returns the first `n` values of a provided iterator.
Author: The Stdlib Authors
Latest version: 0.2.3

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  <summary>
    About stdlib...
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# iterHead

[![NPM version][npm-image]][npm-url] [![Build Status][test-image]][test-url] [![Coverage Status][coverage-image]][coverage-url] <!-- [![dependencies][dependencies-image]][dependencies-url] -->

> Create an [iterator][mdn-iterator-protocol] which returns the first `n` values of a provided [iterator][mdn-iterator-protocol].

<!-- Section to include introductory text. Make sure to keep an empty line after the intro `section` element and another before the `/section` close. -->

<section class="intro">

</section>

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<!-- Package usage documentation. -->

<section class="installation">

## Installation

```bash
npm install @stdlib/iter-head
```

</section>

<section class="usage">

## Usage

```javascript
var iterHead = require( '@stdlib/iter-head' );
```

#### iterHead( iterator, n )

Returns an [iterator][mdn-iterator-protocol] which returns the first `n` values of a provided [`iterator`][mdn-iterator-protocol].

```javascript
var array2iterator = require( '@stdlib/array-to-iterator' );

var it = iterHead( array2iterator( [ 1, 2, 3, 4 ] ), 2 );
// returns <Object>

var v = it.next().value;
// returns 1

v = it.next().value;
// returns 2

var bool = it.next().done;
// returns true
```

The returned [iterator][mdn-iterator-protocol] protocol-compliant object has the following properties:

-   **next**: function which returns an [iterator][mdn-iterator-protocol] protocol-compliant object containing the next iterated value (if one exists) assigned to a `value` property and a `done` property having a `boolean` value indicating whether the [iterator][mdn-iterator-protocol] is finished.
-   **return**: function which closes an [iterator][mdn-iterator-protocol] and returns a single (optional) argument in an [iterator][mdn-iterator-protocol] protocol-compliant object.

</section>

<!-- /.usage -->

<!-- Package usage notes. Make sure to keep an empty line after the `section` element and another before the `/section` close. -->

<section class="notes">

## Notes

-   If a provided [iterator][mdn-iterator-protocol] only generates `m` values and `m` is less than `n`, the returned [iterator][mdn-iterator-protocol] only returns `m` values.
-   If an environment supports `Symbol.iterator` **and** a provided [iterator][mdn-iterator-protocol] is iterable, the returned [iterator][mdn-iterator-protocol] is iterable.

</section>

<!-- /.notes -->

<!-- Package usage examples. -->

<section class="examples">

## Examples

<!-- eslint no-undef: "error" -->

```javascript
var randu = require( '@stdlib/random-iter-randu' );
var iterHead = require( '@stdlib/iter-head' );

// Create a seeded iterator for generating pseudorandom numbers:
var rand = randu({
    'seed': 1234
});

// Create an iterator which returns the first 10 generated numbers:
var it = iterHead( rand, 10 );

// Perform manual iteration...
var r;
while ( true ) {
    r = it.next();
    if ( r.done ) {
        break;
    }
    console.log( r.value );
}
```

</section>

<!-- /.examples -->

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<section class="references">

</section>

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<!-- Section for related `stdlib` packages. Do not manually edit this section, as it is automatically populated. -->

<section class="related">

* * *

## See Also

-   <span class="package-name">[`@stdlib/iter-first`][@stdlib/iter/first]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">return the first iterated value.</span>
-   <span class="package-name">[`@stdlib/iter-slice`][@stdlib/iter/slice]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">create an iterator which returns a subsequence of iterated values from a provided iterator.</span>

</section>

<!-- /.related -->

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<section class="main-repo" >

* * *

## Notice

This package is part of [stdlib][stdlib], a standard library for JavaScript and Node.js, with an emphasis on numerical and scientific computing. The library provides a collection of robust, high performance libraries for mathematics, statistics, streams, utilities, and more.

For more information on the project, filing bug reports and feature requests, and guidance on how to develop [stdlib][stdlib], see the main project [repository][stdlib].

#### Community

[![Chat][chat-image]][chat-url]

---

## License

See [LICENSE][stdlib-license].


## Copyright

Copyright &copy; 2016-2026. The Stdlib [Authors][stdlib-authors].

</section>

<!-- /.stdlib -->

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<section class="links">

[npm-image]: http://img.shields.io/npm/v/@stdlib/iter-head.svg
[npm-url]: https://npmjs.org/package/@stdlib/iter-head

[test-image]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/iter-head/actions/workflows/test.yml/badge.svg?branch=v0.2.3
[test-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/iter-head/actions/workflows/test.yml?query=branch:v0.2.3

[coverage-image]: https://img.shields.io/codecov/c/github/stdlib-js/iter-head/main.svg
[coverage-url]: https://codecov.io/github/stdlib-js/iter-head?branch=main

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[stdlib]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/stdlib

[stdlib-authors]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/stdlib/graphs/contributors

[umd]: https://github.com/umdjs/umd
[es-module]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Guide/Modules

[deno-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/iter-head/tree/deno
[deno-readme]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/iter-head/blob/deno/README.md
[umd-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/iter-head/tree/umd
[umd-readme]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/iter-head/blob/umd/README.md
[esm-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/iter-head/tree/esm
[esm-readme]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/iter-head/blob/esm/README.md
[branches-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/iter-head/blob/main/branches.md

[stdlib-license]: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/stdlib-js/iter-head/main/LICENSE

[mdn-iterator-protocol]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Iteration_protocols#The_iterator_protocol

<!-- <related-links> -->

[@stdlib/iter/first]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/iter-first

[@stdlib/iter/slice]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/iter-slice

<!-- </related-links> -->

</section>

<!-- /.links -->