Queue.Peek Method

Definition

Namespace:

System.Collections

Assemblies:

netstandard.dll, System.Collections.NonGeneric.dll

Source:

Queue.cs

Returns the object at the beginning of the Queue without removing it.

C#

public virtual object? Peek();

Returns

Object

The object at the beginning of the Queue.

Exceptions

InvalidOperationException

The Queue is empty.

Examples

The following example shows how to add elements to the Queue, remove elements from the Queue, or view the element at the beginning of the Queue.

C#

using System;
using System.Collections;
public class SamplesQueue  {

   public static void Main()  {

      // Creates and initializes a new Queue.
      Queue myQ = new Queue();
      myQ.Enqueue( "The" );
      myQ.Enqueue( "quick" );
      myQ.Enqueue( "brown" );
      myQ.Enqueue( "fox" );

      // Displays the Queue.
      Console.Write( "Queue values:" );
      PrintValues( myQ );

      // Removes an element from the Queue.
      Console.WriteLine( "(Dequeue)\t{0}", myQ.Dequeue() );

      // Displays the Queue.
      Console.Write( "Queue values:" );
      PrintValues( myQ );

      // Removes another element from the Queue.
      Console.WriteLine( "(Dequeue)\t{0}", myQ.Dequeue() );

      // Displays the Queue.
      Console.Write( "Queue values:" );
      PrintValues( myQ );

      // Views the first element in the Queue but does not remove it.
      Console.WriteLine( "(Peek)   \t{0}", myQ.Peek() );

      // Displays the Queue.
      Console.Write( "Queue values:" );
      PrintValues( myQ );
   }

   public static void PrintValues( IEnumerable myCollection )  {
      foreach ( Object obj in myCollection )
         Console.Write( "    {0}", obj );
      Console.WriteLine();
   }
}
/*
This code produces the following output.

Queue values:    The    quick    brown    fox
(Dequeue)       The
Queue values:    quick    brown    fox
(Dequeue)       quick
Queue values:    brown    fox
(Peek)          brown
Queue values:    brown    fox

*/

Remarks

This method is similar to the Dequeue method, but Peek does not modify the Queue.

null can be added to the Queue as a value. To distinguish between a null value and the end of the Queue, check the Count property or catch the InvalidOperationException, which is thrown when the Queue is empty.

This method is an O(1) operation.

Applies to

See also

• Enqueue(Object)
• Dequeue()