# xarray.CFTimeIndex.item

#### CFTimeIndex.item()[[source]](https://github.com/pydata/xarray/blob/main/xarray/../.pixi/envs/doc/lib/python3.15/site-packages/pandas/core/base.py#L417-L455)

Return the first element of the underlying data as a Python scalar.

This method extracts the single element from a length-1 Series or
Index and returns it as a native Python scalar type (e.g., `int`,
`float`, `str`).

* **Returns:**
  [scalar](../user-guide/terminology.html.md#term-scalar) – The first element of Series or Index.
* **Raises:**
  [**ValueError**](https://docs.python.org/3/builtins/exceptions.html#ValueError) – If the data is not length = 1.

#### SEE ALSO
`Index.values`
: Returns an array representing the data in the Index.

`Series.head`
: Returns the first n rows.

### Examples

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```pycon
>>> s = pd.Series([1])
>>> s.item()
1
```

For an index:

```pycon
>>> s = pd.Series([1], index=["a"])
>>> s.index.item()
'a'
```

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