[Home](./index.md) > [@apextoaster/js-utils](./js-utils.md) > [getHeadOrDefault](./js-utils.getheadordefault.md)
## getHeadOrDefault() function
Get the first element from the specified key, within a map of lists, or a default value when the key does not exist or is nil.
Signature:
```typescript
export declare function getHeadOrDefault(map: Map>>, key: TKey, defaultValue: TVal): TVal;
```
## Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| map | Map<TKey, Array<Optional<TVal>>>
| |
| key | TKey
| |
| defaultValue | TVal
| |
Returns:
`TVal`