The Eighteenth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys: Targeting and First Spectra from SDSS-V

The eighteenth data release of the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys (SDSS) is first one for SDSS-V, fifth generation survey. SDSS-V comprises three primary scientific programs, or "Mappers": Milky Way Mapper (MWM), Black Hole (BHM), and Local Volume (LVM). This contains extensive targeting information two multi-object spectroscopy programs (MWM BHM), including input catalogs selection functions their numerous objectives. We describe production databases calibration- scientifically-focused components. DR18 also includes ~25,000 new SDSS spectra supplemental X-ray sources identified by eROSITA in its eFEDS field. present updates to some software pipelines preview changes anticipated DR19. value-added (VACs) based on SDSS-IV that have been published since DR17, VAC