Java LinkedList getFirst() Method

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Description

The Java LinkedList getFirst() method retrieves, but does not remove, the first element of this linkedList. So we can get the first element without modifying the LinkedList object.

Declaration

Following is the declaration for Java LinkedList getFirst() method

public E getFirst()

Parameters

NA

Return Value

This method returns the head of this linkedList.

Exception

NoSuchElementException − if this linkedList is empty.

Getting First Element of LinkedList of Integers Example

The following example shows the usage of Java LinkedList getFirst() method with Integers. We're creating an LinkedList of Integers, adding some elements, print it and then use getFirst() method to get the first element. LinkedList remains untouched.

package com.tutorialspoint;

import java.util.LinkedList;

public class LinkedListDemo {
   public static void main(String[] args) {
      
      // create an empty linkedList
      LinkedList<Integer> linkedList = new LinkedList<>();

      // use add() method to add elements in the linkedList
      linkedList.add(25);
      linkedList.add(30);
      linkedList.add(20);
      linkedList.add(18);        

      // let us print all the elements available in linkedList
      System.out.println("LinkedList = " + linkedList);

      // it will retrieve first element
      System.out.println("Retrieved Element is = " + linkedList.getFirst());
	  
      // let us print all the elements available in linkedList again
      System.out.println("LinkedList = " + linkedList);
   }
}

Output

Let us compile and run the above program, this will produce the following result −

LinkedList = [25, 30, 20, 18]
Retrieved Element is = 25
LinkedList = [25, 30, 20, 18]

Getting First Element of LinkedList of Strings Example

The following example shows the usage of Java LinkedList getFirst() method with Strings. We're creating an LinkedList of Strings, adding some elements, print it and then use getFirst() method to get the first element. LinkedList remains untouched.

package com.tutorialspoint;

import java.util.LinkedList;

public class LinkedListDemo {
   public static void main(String[] args) {
      
      // create an empty linkedList
      LinkedList<String> linkedList = new LinkedList<>();

      // use add() method to add elements in the linkedList
      linkedList.add("A");
      linkedList.add("B");
      linkedList.add("C");
      linkedList.add("D");        

      // let us print all the elements available in linkedList
      System.out.println("LinkedList = " + linkedList);

      // it will retrieve first element
      System.out.println("Retrieved Element is = " + linkedList.getFirst());
	  
      // let us print all the elements available in linkedList again
      System.out.println("LinkedList = " + linkedList);
   }
}

Output

Let us compile and run the above program, this will produce the following result −

LinkedList = [A, B, C, D]
Retrieved Element is = A
LinkedList = [A, B, C, D]

Getting First Element of LinkedList of Objects Example

The following example shows the usage of Java LinkedList getFirst() method with Student objects. We're creating an LinkedList of Student objects, adding some students, print it and then use getFirst() method to get the first student. LinkedList remains untouched.

package com.tutorialspoint;

import java.util.LinkedList;

public class LinkedListDemo {
   public static void main(String[] args) {
      
      // create an empty linkedList
      LinkedList<Student> linkedList = new LinkedList<>();

      // use add() method to add elements in the linkedList
      linkedList.add(new Student(1, "Julie"));
      linkedList.add(new Student(2, "Robert"));
      linkedList.add(new Student(3, "Adam"));       

      // let us print all the elements available in linkedList
      System.out.println("LinkedList = " + linkedList);

      // it will retrieve first element
      System.out.println("Retrieved Element is = " + linkedList.getFirst());
	  
      // let us print all the elements available in linkedList again
      System.out.println("LinkedList = " + linkedList);
   }
}
class Student {
   int rollNo;
   String name;

   Student(int rollNo, String name){
      this.rollNo = rollNo;
      this.name = name;
   }

   @Override
   public String toString() {
      return "[ " + this.rollNo + ", " + this.name + " ]";
   }
   
   @Override
   public boolean equals(Object obj) {
      Student s = (Student)obj;
      return this.rollNo == s.rollNo && this.name.equalsIgnoreCase(s.name);
   }
}

Output

Let us compile and run the above program, this will produce the following result −

LinkedList = [[ 1, Julie ], [ 2, Robert ], [ 3, Adam ]]
Retrieved Element is = [ 1, Julie ]
LinkedList = [[ 1, Julie ], [ 2, Robert ], [ 3, Adam ]]