title: How to get the key of a Firebase Object
body: <p>How can I get the Key of a Firebase object without using snapshot?</p>
  
  <p>I have done the research below.</p>
  
  <p>Using the code:</p>
  
  <pre><code>var ref = new Firebase('https://johnsoncompany.firebaseio.com/people')
  
  var firstPerson = ref.orderByChild("first").limitToFirst(1);
  
  var key = $firebaseObject(firstPerson);
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>..I get the object below:</p>
  
  <pre><code>{  
     "5":{  
        "first":"Jennifer",
        "last":"Robert",
        "mobile":"121 364 135",
     }
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Firebase had given my object the key "5" since the data is contained in an array of values. This was the 6th value.</p>
  
  <p>The challenge is that in-order to get the value "Jennifer", I have to know that the key is "5".</p>
  
  <p>I will then use the code:</p>
  
  <pre><code>var firstPerson = $firebaseObject(ref.child('5'))
  
  var firstName = firstPerson.first; //Returns Jennifer
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I know I can use the code below to get the key '5':</p>
  
  <pre><code>    ref.orderByChild("first").limitToFirst(1).once("child_added", function(snapshot) {
          alert(snapshot.key());
      }); 
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The challenge is that there is a delay before it returns the key. This results to an malfuctioning app.</p>
  
  <p>Is there a way I can get the key without snapshot</p>
  
  <pre><code>ref.orderByChild("first").limitToFirst(1).key(); //This doesn't work
  </code></pre>