content/snippets/js/s/data-structures-queue.md
---
title: JavaScript Data Structures - Queue
shortTitle: Queue
type: story
language: javascript
tags: [class]
cover: purple-flower-macro-2
excerpt: A queue is a linear data structure which follows a first in, first out (FIFO) order of operations.
listed: true
dateModified: 2021-07-29
---
## Definition
A queue is a linear data structure that behaves like a real-world queue. It follows a first in, first out (FIFO) order of operations, similar to its real-world counterpart. This means that new items are added to the end of the queue, whereas items are removed from the start of the queue.
![JavaScript Queue visualization](./illustrations/ds-queue.svg)
The main operations of a queue data structure are:
- `enqueue`: Adds an element to the end of the queue
- `dequeue`: Removes an element from the start of the queue
- `peek`: Retrieves the element at the start of the queue, without removing it
- `isEmpty`: Checks if the queue is empty
## Implementation
```js
class Queue {
constructor() {
this.items = [];
}
enqueue(item) {
this.items.push(item);
}
dequeue() {
return this.items.shift();
}
peek() {
return this.items[0];
}
isEmpty() {
return this.items.length === 0;
}
}
```
- Create a `class` with a `constructor` that initializes an empty array, `items`, for each instance.
- Define an `enqueue()` method, which uses `Array.prototype.push()` to add an element, `item`, to the end of the `items` array.
- Define a `dequeue()` method, which uses `Array.prototype.shift()` to remove an element from the start of the `items` array.
- Define a `peek()` method, which retrieves the value of the first element in the `items` array, without removing it.
- Define an `isEmpty()` method, which uses `Array.prototype.length` to determine if the `items` array is empty.
```js
const queue = new Queue();
queue.isEmpty(); // true
queue.enqueue('A');
queue.enqueue('B');
queue.enqueue('C');
queue.enqueue('D');
queue.enqueue('E');
queue.isEmpty(); // false
queue.peek(); // 'A'
queue.dequeue(); // 'A'
queue.dequeue(); // 'B'
queue.dequeue(); // 'C'
```