Java LinkedList set() Method

The LinkedList.set(int index, E element) method in Java is used to replace the element at the specified position in the LinkedList with the specified element. This guide will cover the method’s usage, explain how it works, and provide examples to demonstrate its functionality.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. set Method Syntax
3. Examples
   • Replacing an Element at a Specific Position
   • Handling IndexOutOfBoundsException
4. Conclusion

Introduction

The LinkedList.set(int index, E element) method is a member of the LinkedList class in Java. It allows you to replace the element at a specified position in the LinkedList with the specified element. This method is particularly useful when you need to update the value of an element at a specific position in the list.

set Method Syntax

The syntax for the set method is as follows:

public E set(int index, E element)

• index: The index of the element to replace.
• element: The element to be stored at the specified position.
• Returns: The element previously at the specified position.
• Throws: IndexOutOfBoundsException if the index is out of range (index < 0 || index >= size()).

Examples

Replacing an Element at a Specific Position

The set method can be used to replace an element at a specified position in a LinkedList.

Example

import java.util.LinkedList;

public class SetExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Creating a LinkedList of Strings
        LinkedList<String> list = new LinkedList<>();

        // Adding elements to the LinkedList
        list.add("Apple");
        list.add("Banana");
        list.add("Orange");

        // Replacing the element at index 1 with "Mango"
        String replacedElement = list.set(1, "Mango");

        // Printing the replaced element and the updated LinkedList
        System.out.println("Replaced element: " + replacedElement);
        System.out.println("Updated LinkedList: " + list);
    }
}

Output:

Replaced element: Banana
Updated LinkedList: [Apple, Mango, Orange]

Handling IndexOutOfBoundsException

If the specified index is out of range, the set method throws an IndexOutOfBoundsException. It is important to handle this exception to avoid runtime errors.

Example

import java.util.LinkedList;

public class SetExceptionExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Creating a LinkedList of Strings
        LinkedList<String> list = new LinkedList<>();

        // Adding elements to the LinkedList
        list.add("Apple");
        list.add("Banana");

        try {
            // Attempting to replace an element at an out-of-range index
            list.set(5, "Orange");
        } catch (IndexOutOfBoundsException e) {
            System.out.println("Exception: " + e.getMessage());
        }

        // Printing the LinkedList
        System.out.println("LinkedList: " + list);
    }
}

Output:

Exception: Index: 5, Size: 2
LinkedList: [Apple, Banana]

Conclusion

The LinkedList.set(int index, E element) method in Java provides a way to replace the element at a specified position in a LinkedList. By understanding how to use this method, you can efficiently update elements in your Java applications. Handling the potential IndexOutOfBoundsException ensures your code remains robust and error-free when dealing with invalid indices.