getting the first element of a possibly empty list

[Tom Holroyd]

Here's one way

>> x = [4 3 2 1];
>> x(1:min(1,size(x,1)))

ans =

     4

>> x = [];
>> x(1:min(1,size(x,1)))

ans =

   Empty matrix: 1-by-0

This can even be shortened to x(1:min(1,end)).  This works in Octave as well.
Is there a simpler way?

--
Dr. Tom Holroyd
"A man of genius makes no mistakes. His errors are volitional and
are the portals of discovery." -- James Joyce



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