GetNext

GetNext is a common naming convention for a function or method used in software libraries and programming languages to retrieve the next element in a sequence, stream, cursor, or other ordered data source. The term is not tied to a single standard; it appears across languages and APIs as a design pattern for advancing through data.

Typically, a GetNext operation advances the internal position and returns the subsequent item if one exists. At the end of the data source, implementations may return a null value, a sentinel, or raise an exception, depending on language conventions. In some environments, GetNext is complemented by a separate hasNext or hasMore method to test availability before calling GetNext.

Illustrative examples of usage include:

- Pseudocode: function GetNext(it) if it.hasNext() then return it.next() else return EndOfSequence

- Database cursor: GetNextRow(cursor) fetches the next row and returns null when exhausted

- Streaming API: GetNextChunk(stream) reads and returns the next data chunk

Variations and naming differences are common. GetNext is one of several iteration-related conventions; others include Next, MoveNext, fetchNext, or language-specific iterator interfaces that provide operators or methods to advance rather than a single function. In practice, the exact behavior—whether the call raises an exception, returns a null/sentinel, or requires a preliminary availability check—depends on the language, library, and data source involved. See also next, iterator, enumerator, and cursor for related concepts.