# One item in a return list

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/one-item-in-a-return-list/107334>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [June 20, 2007, 4:42pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/one-item-in-a-return-list/107334 "2007-06-20T16:42:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dgm](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@dgm](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dgm)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2007, 4:42pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/one-item-in-a-return-list/107334/1 "2007-06-20T16:42:41Z")

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I have a find\_by\_sql that returns a list of only one object. What is  
the best way to get that object out of the list? Is there a way other  
than a for loop?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dgm](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@dgm](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/dgm)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2007, 5:10pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/one-item-in-a-return-list/107334/2 "2007-06-20T17:10:55Z")

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On 6/20/07, David M. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> I have a find\_by\_sql that returns a list of only one object. What is  
> the best way to get that object out of the list? Is there a way other  
> than a for loop?

Use first():

row = Model.find\_by\_sql(sql).first