Checking what item is first in line without removing it: element
import java.util.LinkedList; import java.util.Queue; public class Main { public static void main(String[] args) { Queue<String> queue = new LinkedList<String>(); queue.add("A"); queue.add("B"); queue.offer("C"); queue.offer("D"); System.out.println("remove: " + queue.remove()); System.out.println("element: " + queue.element()); System.out.println("poll: " + queue.poll()); System.out.println("peek: " + queue.peek()); } } /* remove: A element: B poll: B peek: C */