Java LinkedList Example

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In this article, we will see important LinkedList class methods with examples.
Java LinkedList class uses a doubly linked list to store the elements. It provides a linked-list data structure. It inherits the AbstractList class and implements List and Deque interfaces.
The important points about Java LinkedList are:
  • Java LinkedList class can contain duplicate elements.
  • Java LinkedList class maintains insertion order.
  • In Java LinkedList class, manipulation is fast because no shifting needs to have occurred.
  • The LinkedList class implements Queue and Deque interfaces. Therefore, It can also be used as a Queue, Deque or Stack.
  • Java LinkedList is not thread-safe. You must explicitly synchronize concurrent modifications to the LinkedList in a multi-threaded environment.

Add elements LinkedList API's with Examples

Let's discuss adding elements to LinkedList using different methods.
LinkedList<String> linkedList = new LinkedList<>();

add(String element) method example

Adding new elements to the end of the LinkedList using add() method.
LinkedList<String> linkedList = new LinkedList<>();
linkedList.add("A");
linkedList.add("B");
linkedList.add("C");

add(int index, String element) method example

Adding an element at the specified position in the LinkedList using index method - add(index, element)
LinkedList<String> linkedList = new LinkedList<>();
linkedList.add("A");
linkedList.add("B");
linkedList.add("C");
linkedList.add(3, "L");
System.out.println("After add(3, \"D\") : " + linkedList);

addFirst(String e) method example

Adding an element at the beginning of the LinkedList using addFirst() method
LinkedList<String> linkedList = new LinkedList<>();
linkedList.addFirst("R");

addLast(String e) method example

Adding an element at the end of the LinkedList using addLast() method
LinkedList<String> linkedList = new LinkedList<>();
linkedList.add("A");
linkedList.add("B");
linkedList.add("C");
linkedList.add(3, "L");
linkedList.addLast("J");
System.out.println("After addLast(\"F\") : " + linkedList);

addAll(Collection<? extends String> c) method example

Adding all the elements from an existing collection to the end of the LinkedList
List<String> secondList= new ArrayList<>();
secondList.add("Jesse");
secondList.add("Walt");
linkedList.addAll(secondList);
System.out.println("After addAll(secondList) : " + linkedList);

Remove elements LinkedList API's with Examples

Let's first create LinkedList with few fruits and then use remove methods to remove fruits from LinkedList.
LinkedList<String> fruitList = new LinkedList<>();

fruitList.add("Apple");
fruitList.add("banana");
fruitList.add("mango");
fruitList.add("Pinaple");

System.out.println("Initial LinkedList = " + fruitList);

removeFirst() method example

Remove the first element in the LinkedList. Throws NoSuchElementException if the LinkedList is empty.
String element = fruitList.removeFirst();   
System.out.println("Removed the first element " + element + " => " + fruitList);

removeLast() method example

Remove the last element in the LinkedList. Throws NoSuchElementException if the LinkedList is empty
element = fruitList.removeLast();    
System.out.println("Removed the last element " + element + " => " + fruitList);

remove(Object o) method example

Remove the first occurrence of the specified element from the LinkedList
boolean isRemoved = fruitList.remove("banana");
if(isRemoved) {
    System.out.println("Removed banana => " + fruitList);
}

removeIf(Predicate<? super String> filter) method example

Removes all of the elements of this collection that satisfy the given predicate. Errors or runtime exceptions thrown during iteration or by the predicate are relayed to the caller.
fruitList.removeIf(programmingLanguage -> programmingLanguage.startsWith("C"));
System.out.println("Removed elements starting with C => " + fruitList);

clear() method example

Removes all of the elements from this list. The list will be empty after this call returns.
fruitList.clear();
System.out.println("Cleared the LinkedList => " + fruitList);

Retrieve elements LinkedList API's with Examples

A LinkedList containing Stock Prices of a company for the last 6 days
        LinkedList<Double> stockPrices = new LinkedList<>();

        stockPrices.add(45.00);
        stockPrices.add(51.00);
        stockPrices.add(62.50);
        stockPrices.add(42.75);
        stockPrices.add(36.80);
        stockPrices.add(68.40);

getFirst() method example

Returns the first element in this list.
  Double firstElement = stockPrices.getFirst();
  System.out.println("Initial Stock Price : " + firstElement);

getLast() method example

Returns the last element in this list.
 Double lastElement = stockPrices.getLast();
 System.out.println("Current Stock Price : " + lastElement);

get(int index) method example

Getting the element at a given position in the LinkedList
 Double stockPriceOn3rdDay = stockPrices.get(2);
 System.out.println("Stock Price on 3rd Day : " + stockPriceOn3rdDay);

Search elements LinkedList API's with Examples

Let's create a list of employees and apply LinkedList search methods.
LinkedList<String> employees = new LinkedList<>();

employees.add("John");
employees.add("David");
employees.add("Lara");
employees.add("Chris");
employees.add("Steve");
employees.add("David");

contains(Object o) method example

Check if the LinkedList contains an element
System.out.println("Does Employees LinkedList contain \"Lara\"? : " + employees.contains("Lara"));

indexOf(Object o) method example

Find the index of the first occurrence of an element in the LinkedList
System.out.println("indexOf \"Steve\" : " + employees.indexOf("Steve"));
System.out.println("indexOf \"Mark\" : " + employees.indexOf("Mark"));

lastIndexOf(Object o) method example

Find the index of the last occurrence of an element in the LinkedList
System.out.println("lastIndexOf \"David\" : " + employees.lastIndexOf("David"));
System.out.println("lastIndexOf \"Bob\" : " + employees.lastIndexOf("Bob"));

Iterating over LinkedList

Let's create an example to list a number of customers and maintain the insertion order.

forEach(Consumer<? super String> action) method example

Performs the given action for each element of the Iterable until all elements have been processed or the action throws an exception. Unless otherwise specified by the implementing class, actions are performed in the order of iteration (if an iteration order is specified). Exceptions thrown by the action are relayed to the caller.
public class ListInterfaceLinkedListImpl {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
         List<Customer> listOfCustomer = new LinkedList<>();
         listOfCustomer.add(new Customer(100, "ramesh"));
         listOfCustomer.add(new Customer(101, "A"));
         listOfCustomer.add(new Customer(102, "B"));
         listOfCustomer.add(new Customer(103, "C"));
         listOfCustomer.forEach( customer -> {
             System.out.println(customer.getId());
             System.out.println(customer.getName());
         });
    }
}

class Customer{
    private int id;
    private String name;
    public Customer(int id, String name) {
        super();
        this.id = id;
        this.name = name;
    }
    public int getId() {
        return id;
    }
    public void setId(int id) {
        this.id = id;
    }
    public String getName() {
        return name;
    }
    public void setName(String name) {
        this.name = name;
    }
}

iterator() method example

Returns an iterator over the elements in this list (in proper sequence).
This implementation merely returns a list iterator over the list.
Iterator<Customer> customerIterator= listOfCustomer .iterator();
while (customerIterator.hasNext()) {
    Customer customer= customerIterator.next();
    System.out.println(customer.getName);
}

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