diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/first.md b/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/first.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..65599092
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/first.md
@@ -0,0 +1,345 @@
+
+## First matching element from array
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- a: banana
+- a: cat
+- a: apple
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'first(.a == "cat")' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+a: cat
+```
+
+## First matching element from array with multiple matches
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- a: banana
+- a: cat
+- a: apple
+- a: cat
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'first(.a == "cat")' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+a: cat
+```
+
+## First matching element from array with numeric condition
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- a: 10
+- a: 100
+- a: 1
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'first(.a > 50)' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+a: 100
+```
+
+## First matching element from array with boolean condition
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- a: false
+- a: true
+- a: false
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'first(.a == true)' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+a: true
+```
+
+## First matching element from array with null values
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- a: null
+- a: cat
+- a: apple
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'first(.a != null)' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+a: cat
+```
+
+## First matching element from array with complex condition
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- a: dog
+  b: 5
+- a: cat
+  b: 3
+- a: apple
+  b: 7
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'first(.b > 4)' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+a: dog
+b: 5
+```
+
+## First matching element from map
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+x:
+  a: banana
+y:
+  a: cat
+z:
+  a: apple
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'first(.a == "cat")' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+a: cat
+```
+
+## First matching element from map with numeric condition
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+x:
+  a: 10
+y:
+  a: 100
+z:
+  a: 1
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'first(.a > 50)' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+a: 100
+```
+
+## First matching element from nested structure
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+items:
+  - a: banana
+  - a: cat
+  - a: apple
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq '.items | first(.a == "cat")' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+a: cat
+```
+
+## First matching element with no matches
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- a: banana
+- a: cat
+- a: apple
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'first(.a == "dog")' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+```
+
+## First matching element from empty array
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+[]
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'first(.a == "cat")' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+```
+
+## First matching element from scalar node
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+hello
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'first(. == "hello")' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+```
+
+## First matching element from null node
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+null
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'first(. == "hello")' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+```
+
+## First matching element with string condition
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- a: banana
+- a: cat
+- a: apple
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'first(.a | test("^c"))' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+a: cat
+```
+
+## First matching element with length condition
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- a: hi
+- a: hello
+- a: world
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'first(.a | length > 4)' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+a: hello
+```
+
+## First matching element from array of strings
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- banana
+- cat
+- apple
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'first(. == "cat")' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+cat
+```
+
+## First matching element from array of numbers
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- 10
+- 100
+- 1
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'first(. > 50)' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+100
+```
+
+## First element with no RHS from array
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- 10
+- 100
+- 1
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'first' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+10
+```
+
+## First element with no RHS from array of maps
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- a: 10
+- a: 100
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'first' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+a: 10
+```
+
+## No RHS on empty array returns nothing
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+[]
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'first' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+```
+
+## No RHS on scalar returns nothing
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+hello
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'first' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+```
+
+## No RHS on null returns nothing
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+null
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'first' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+```
+
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/expression_parser.go b/pkg/yqlib/expression_parser.go
index 399ef9c7..eaa5b1c1 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/expression_parser.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/expression_parser.go
@@ -54,6 +54,12 @@ func (p *expressionParserImpl) createExpressionTree(postFixPath []*Operation) (*
 			switch numArgs {
 			case 1:
 				if len(stack) < 1 {
+					// Allow certain unary ops to accept zero args by interpreting missing RHS as nil
+					// TODO - make this more general on OperationType
+					if Operation.OperationType == firstOpType {
+						// no RHS provided; proceed without popping
+						break
+					}
 					return nil, fmt.Errorf("'%v' expects 1 arg but received none", strings.TrimSpace(Operation.StringValue))
 				}
 				remaining, rhs := stack[:len(stack)-1], stack[len(stack)-1]
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/lexer_participle.go b/pkg/yqlib/lexer_participle.go
index 2a47c97d..958ae747 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/lexer_participle.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/lexer_participle.go
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ var participleYqRules = []*participleYqRule{
 
 	simpleOp("sort_?by", sortByOpType),
 	simpleOp("sort", sortOpType),
+	simpleOp("first", firstOpType),
 
 	simpleOp("reverse", reverseOpType),
 
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operation.go b/pkg/yqlib/operation.go
index 77bdf206..5d790df1 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operation.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operation.go
@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@ var delPathsOpType = &operationType{Type: "DEL_PATHS", NumArgs: 1, Precedence: 5
 
 var explodeOpType = &operationType{Type: "EXPLODE", NumArgs: 1, Precedence: 52, Handler: explodeOperator, CheckForPostTraverse: true}
 var sortByOpType = &operationType{Type: "SORT_BY", NumArgs: 1, Precedence: 52, Handler: sortByOperator, CheckForPostTraverse: true}
+var firstOpType = &operationType{Type: "FIRST", NumArgs: 1, Precedence: 52, Handler: firstOperator, CheckForPostTraverse: true}
 var reverseOpType = &operationType{Type: "REVERSE", NumArgs: 0, Precedence: 52, Handler: reverseOperator, CheckForPostTraverse: true}
 var sortOpType = &operationType{Type: "SORT", NumArgs: 0, Precedence: 52, Handler: sortOperator, CheckForPostTraverse: true}
 var shuffleOpType = &operationType{Type: "SHUFFLE", NumArgs: 0, Precedence: 52, Handler: shuffleOperator, CheckForPostTraverse: true}
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_first.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_first.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cdc4d289
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_first.go
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+package yqlib
+
+import "container/list"
+
+func firstOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
+	results := list.New()
+
+	for el := context.MatchingNodes.Front(); el != nil; el = el.Next() {
+		candidate := el.Value.(*CandidateNode)
+
+		// If no RHS expression is provided, simply return the first entry in candidate.Content
+		if expressionNode == nil || expressionNode.RHS == nil {
+			if len(candidate.Content) > 0 {
+				results.PushBack(candidate.Content[0])
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+
+		splatted, err := splat(context.SingleChildContext(candidate), traversePreferences{})
+		if err != nil {
+			return Context{}, err
+		}
+
+		for splatEl := splatted.MatchingNodes.Front(); splatEl != nil; splatEl = splatEl.Next() {
+			splatCandidate := splatEl.Value.(*CandidateNode)
+			// Create a new context for this splatted candidate
+			splatContext := context.SingleChildContext(splatCandidate)
+			// Evaluate the RHS expression against this splatted candidate
+			rhs, err := d.GetMatchingNodes(splatContext, expressionNode.RHS)
+			if err != nil {
+				return Context{}, err
+			}
+
+			includeResult := false
+
+			for resultEl := rhs.MatchingNodes.Front(); resultEl != nil; resultEl = resultEl.Next() {
+				result := resultEl.Value.(*CandidateNode)
+				includeResult = isTruthyNode(result)
+				if includeResult {
+					break
+				}
+			}
+			if includeResult {
+				results.PushBack(splatCandidate)
+				break
+			}
+		}
+
+	}
+	return context.ChildContext(results), nil
+}
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_first_test.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_first_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3805b17f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_first_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,184 @@
+package yqlib
+
+import "testing"
+
+var firstOperatorScenarios = []expressionScenario{
+	{
+		description: "First matching element from array",
+		document:    "[{a: banana},{a: cat},{a: apple}]",
+		expression:  `first(.a == "cat")`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[1], (!!map)::{a: cat}\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		description: "First matching element from array with multiple matches",
+		document:    "[{a: banana},{a: cat},{a: apple},{a: cat}]",
+		expression:  `first(.a == "cat")`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[1], (!!map)::{a: cat}\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		description: "First matching element from array with numeric condition",
+		document:    "[{a: 10},{a: 100},{a: 1}]",
+		expression:  `first(.a > 50)`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[1], (!!map)::{a: 100}\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		description: "First matching element from array with boolean condition",
+		document:    "[{a: false},{a: true},{a: false}]",
+		expression:  `first(.a == true)`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[1], (!!map)::{a: true}\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		description: "First matching element from array with null values",
+		document:    "[{a: null},{a: cat},{a: apple}]",
+		expression:  `first(.a != null)`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[1], (!!map)::{a: cat}\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		description: "First matching element from array with complex condition",
+		document:    "[{a: dog, b: 5},{a: cat, b: 3},{a: apple, b: 7}]",
+		expression:  `first(.b > 4)`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[0], (!!map)::{a: dog, b: 5}\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		description: "First matching element from map",
+		document:    "x: {a: banana}\ny: {a: cat}\nz: {a: apple}",
+		expression:  `first(.a == "cat")`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[y], (!!map)::{a: cat}\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		description: "First matching element from map with numeric condition",
+		document:    "x: {a: 10}\ny: {a: 100}\nz: {a: 1}",
+		expression:  `first(.a > 50)`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[y], (!!map)::{a: 100}\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		description: "First matching element from nested structure",
+		document:    "items: [{a: banana},{a: cat},{a: apple}]",
+		expression:  `.items | first(.a == "cat")`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[items 1], (!!map)::{a: cat}\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		description: "First matching element with no matches",
+		document:    "[{a: banana},{a: cat},{a: apple}]",
+		expression:  `first(.a == "dog")`,
+		expected:    []string{
+			// No output expected when no matches
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		description: "First matching element from empty array",
+		document:    "[]",
+		expression:  `first(.a == "cat")`,
+		expected:    []string{
+			// No output expected when array is empty
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		description: "First matching element from scalar node",
+		document:    "hello",
+		expression:  `first(. == "hello")`,
+		expected:    []string{
+			// No output expected when node is scalar (no content to splat)
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		description: "First matching element from null node",
+		document:    "null",
+		expression:  `first(. == "hello")`,
+		expected:    []string{
+			// No output expected when node is null (no content to splat)
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		description: "First matching element with string condition",
+		document:    "[{a: banana},{a: cat},{a: apple}]",
+		expression:  `first(.a | test("^c"))`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[1], (!!map)::{a: cat}\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		description: "First matching element with length condition",
+		document:    "[{a: hi},{a: hello},{a: world}]",
+		expression:  `first(.a | length > 4)`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[1], (!!map)::{a: hello}\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		description: "First matching element from array of strings",
+		document:    "[banana, cat, apple]",
+		expression:  `first(. == "cat")`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[1], (!!str)::cat\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		description: "First matching element from array of numbers",
+		document:    "[10, 100, 1]",
+		expression:  `first(. > 50)`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[1], (!!int)::100\n",
+		},
+	},
+	// New tests for no RHS (return first child)
+	{
+		description: "First element with no RHS from array",
+		document:    "[10, 100, 1]",
+		expression:  `first`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[0], (!!int)::10\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		description: "First element with no RHS from array of maps",
+		document:    "[{a: 10},{a: 100}]",
+		expression:  `first`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[0], (!!map)::{a: 10}\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		description: "No RHS on empty array returns nothing",
+		document:    "[]",
+		expression:  `first`,
+		expected:    []string{},
+	},
+	{
+		description: "No RHS on scalar returns nothing",
+		document:    "hello",
+		expression:  `first`,
+		expected:    []string{},
+	},
+	{
+		description: "No RHS on null returns nothing",
+		document:    "null",
+		expression:  `first`,
+		expected:    []string{},
+	},
+}
+
+func TestFirstOperatorScenarios(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, tt := range firstOperatorScenarios {
+		testScenario(t, &tt)
+	}
+	documentOperatorScenarios(t, "first", firstOperatorScenarios)
+}