title: Java LinkedList - differences between retrieve operations
body: <p>Are there any differences between different methods in each of the following groups of element retrieve operations in <code>LinkedList</code>?</p>
  
  <p><strong>Returning null + removing operations:</strong> <code>poll()</code>, <code>pollFirst()</code>.</p>
  
  <p><strong>Returning null + not removing operations:</strong> <code>peek()</code>, <code>peekFirst()</code>.</p>
  
  <p><strong>Throwing exception + removing operations:</strong> <code>pop()</code>, <code>remove()</code>, <code>removeFirst()</code>.</p>
  
  <p><strong>Throwing exception + not removing operations:</strong> <code>element()</code>, <code>getFirst()</code>.</p>
  
  <p>Similar duplications exists in insertion methods. </p>
  
  <p>If there is no such difference, I would expect it to be mentioned in the javadoc of the methods (something like the good old "This is exactly like calling ..."). Is it only a sloppy documentation, or am I missing anything?</p>