getLatest

getLatest is a generic term used in software to refer to retrieving the most recent item, version, or update from a data source or service. It is commonly implemented as a function, method, or API endpoint in programming languages and frameworks.

In practice, getLatest may return a single item or a list of items limited by a specified count. The selection is typically based on a timestamp, a version number, or an explicit status field. When multiple items share the same timestamp, the function may use a secondary key to break ties.

Common implementations include: in SQL, selecting with ORDER BY updated_at DESC LIMIT 1; in RESTful APIs, endpoints like GET /items/latest or GET /releases/latest; in code, utilities such as get_latest(items, key='updated_at') or equivalent logic using max.

Practical considerations include data freshness, cache invalidation, handling time zones, and error handling when no items exist. Performance depends on proper indexing of the timestamp or version field and careful handling of concurrent updates to avoid returning stale data.

Related concepts include getRecent, fetchLatest, latestVersion, newest, and getLatestRelease.