Comparable

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## java.lang
Interface Comparable

All Known Implementing Classes:
  BigDecimal, BigInteger, Byte, Character, CollationKey, Date, Double, DSMCCObject, File, Float, Integer, Long, ObjectStreamField, Short, String, URI

    public interface Comparable

This interface imposes a total ordering on the objects of each class that implements it. This ordering is referred to as the class's natural ordering, and the class's `compareTo` method is referred to as its natural comparison method.

Lists (and arrays) of objects that implement this interface can be sorted automatically by `Collections.sort` (and `Arrays.sort`). Objects that implement this interface can be used as keys in a sorted map or elements in a sorted set, without the need to specify a comparator.

The natural ordering for a class `C` is said to be consistent with equals if and only if `(e1.compareTo((Object)e2) == 0)` has the same boolean value as `e1.equals((Object)e2)` for every `e1` and `e2` of class `C`. Note that `null` is not an instance of any class, and `e.compareTo(null)` should throw a `NullPointerException` even though `e.equals(null)` returns `false`.

It is strongly recommended (though not required) that natural orderings be consistent with equals. This is so because sorted sets (and sorted maps) without explicit comparators behave "strangely" when they are used with elements (or keys) whose natural ordering is inconsistent with equals. In particular, such a sorted set (or sorted map) violates the general contract for set (or map), which is defined in terms of the `equals` method.

For example, if one adds two keys `a` and `b` such that `(!a.equals((Object)b) && a.compareTo((Object)b) == 0)` to a sorted set that does not use an explicit comparator, the second `add` operation returns false (and the size of the sorted set does not increase) because `a` and `b` are equivalent from the sorted set's perspective.

Virtually all Java core classes that implement comparable have natural orderings that are consistent with equals. One exception is `java.math.BigDecimal`, whose natural ordering equates `BigDecimal` objects with equal values and different precisions (such as 4.0 and 4.00). NOTE: java.math.BigDecimal is found in J2ME CDC profiles such as J2ME Foundation Profile.

For the mathematically inclined, the relation that defines the natural ordering on a given class C is:

           {(x, y) such that x.compareTo((Object)y) <= 0}.

The quotient for this total order is:

           {(x, y) such that x.compareTo((Object)y) == 0}.

It follows immediately from the contract for `compareTo` that the quotient is an equivalence relation on `C`, and that the natural ordering is a total order on `C`. When we say that a class's natural ordering is consistent with equals, we mean that the quotient for the natural ordering is the equivalence relation defined by the class's `equals(Object)` method:

         {(x, y) such that x.equals((Object)y)}.

This interface is a member of the Java Collections Framework.

Since:
  1.2
Version:
  1.13, 02/02/00
Author:
  Josh Bloch
See Also:
  `Comparator`, `Collections.sort(java.util.List)`, `Arrays.sort(Object[])`, `SortedSet`, `SortedMap`, `TreeSet`, `TreeMap`

Method Summary
`int` | `compareTo(Object o)` Compares this object with the specified object for order.

Method Detail

### compareTo

    int compareTo(Object o)

  Compares this object with the specified object for order. Returns a negative integer, zero, or a positive integer as this object is less than, equal to, or greater than the specified object.

  In the foregoing description, the notation `sgn(`expression`)` designates the mathematical signum function, which is defined to return one of `-1`, `0`, or `1` according to whether the value of expression is negative, zero or positive. The implementor must ensure `sgn(x.compareTo(y)) == -sgn(y.compareTo(x))` for all `x` and `y`. (This implies that `x.compareTo(y)` must throw an exception iff `y.compareTo(x)` throws an exception.)

  The implementor must also ensure that the relation is transitive: `(x.compareTo(y)>0 && y.compareTo(z)>0)` implies `x.compareTo(z)>0`.

  Finally, the implementer must ensure that `x.compareTo(y)==0` implies that `sgn(x.compareTo(z)) == sgn(y.compareTo(z))`, for all `z`.

  It is strongly recommended, but not strictly required that `(x.compareTo(y)==0) == (x.equals(y))`. Generally speaking, any class that implements the `Comparable` interface and violates this condition should clearly indicate this fact. The recommended language is "Note: this class has a natural ordering that is inconsistent with equals."

  Parameters:
    `o` - the Object to be compared.
  Returns:
    a negative integer, zero, or a positive integer as this object is less than, equal to, or greater than the specified object.
  Throws:
    `ClassCastException` - if the specified object's type prevents it from being compared to this Object.

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