Complete Java SE 8 Developer Bootcamp - Comparator

The video tutorial explains the differences between the Comparable and Comparator interfaces in Java. It highlights how Comparable is used for natural ordering of objects, while Comparator offers more flexibility by allowing custom sorting logic. The tutorial provides an example of using Comparator to compare dates, demonstrating how to implement the compare method. It also discusses when to use Comparator over Comparable, especially when dealing with collections of mixed objects.

What is the primary purpose of the Comparable interface in Java?

• To allow objects to be compared for equality

• To define a natural ordering for objects

• To convert objects to strings

• To manage memory allocation

How does the Comparator interface differ from the Comparable interface?

• Comparator is used for sorting arrays only

• Comparator allows custom ordering of unrelated objects

• Comparator is less flexible than Comparable

• Comparator can only compare objects of the same type

Which method must be implemented when using the Comparator interface?

• hashCode

• compare

• compareTo

• equals

In the date comparison example, what does a positive result from the compare method indicate?

• The first date is earlier than the second

• The first date is later than the second

• The dates are equal

• The comparison is invalid

What is a key advantage of using a Comparator over a Comparable?

• It automatically sorts objects in ascending order

• It requires less code to implement

• It is faster than Comparable

• It can compare objects of different types