Uses of Interface java.util.Comparator (Java SE 26 & JDK 26)
Description: use: module: java.base, package: java.util, interface: Comparator

# Uses of Interface
java.util.Comparator

Packages that use Comparator
Package
Description
java.lang
Provides classes that are fundamental to the design of the Java programming language.
java.text
Provides classes and interfaces for handling text, dates, numbers, and messages in a manner independent of natural languages.
java.time
The main API for dates, times, instants, and durations.
java.time.chrono
Generic API for calendar systems other than the default ISO.
java.util
Contains the collections framework, some internationalization support classes, a service loader, properties, random number generation, string parsing and scanning classes, base64 encoding and decoding, a bit array, and several miscellaneous utility classes.
java.util.concurrent
Utility classes commonly useful in concurrent programming.
java.util.function
Functional interfaces provide target types for lambda expressions and method references.
java.util.stream
Classes to support functional-style operations on streams of elements, such as map-reduce transformations on collections.
javax.swing
Provides a set of "lightweight" (all-Java language) components that, to the maximum degree possible, work the same on all platforms.
javax.swing.table
Provides classes and interfaces for dealing with `javax.swing.JTable`.

- ## Uses of Comparator in java.lang

  Fields in java.lang declared as Comparator
  Modifier and Type
  Field
  Description
  `static final Comparator<String>`
  String.`CASE_INSENSITIVE_ORDER`
  A Comparator that orders `String` objects as by `compareToIgnoreCase`.
  `static final Comparator<String>`
  String.`UNICODE_CASEFOLD_ORDER`
  A Comparator that orders `String` objects as by `compareToFoldCase()`.

- ## Uses of Comparator in java.text

  Classes in java.text that implement Comparator
  Modifier and Type
  Class
  Description
  `class`
  `Collator`
  The `Collator` class performs locale-sensitive `String` comparison.
  `class`
  `RuleBasedCollator`
  The `RuleBasedCollator` class is a concrete subclass of `Collator` that provides a simple, data-driven, table collator.

- ## Uses of Comparator in java.time

  Methods in java.time that return Comparator
  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `static Comparator<OffsetDateTime>`
  OffsetDateTime.`timeLineOrder()`
  Gets a comparator that compares two `OffsetDateTime` instances based solely on the instant.

- ## Uses of Comparator in java.time.chrono

  Methods in java.time.chrono that return Comparator
  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `static Comparator<ChronoLocalDate>`
  ChronoLocalDate.`timeLineOrder()`
  Gets a comparator that compares `ChronoLocalDate` in time-line order ignoring the chronology.
  `static Comparator<ChronoLocalDateTime<?>>`
  ChronoLocalDateTime.`timeLineOrder()`
  Gets a comparator that compares `ChronoLocalDateTime` in time-line order ignoring the chronology.
  `static Comparator<ChronoZonedDateTime<?>>`
  ChronoZonedDateTime.`timeLineOrder()`
  Gets a comparator that compares `ChronoZonedDateTime` in time-line order ignoring the chronology.

- ## Uses of Comparator in java.util

  Methods in java.util that return Comparator
  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `Comparator<? super E>`
  PriorityQueue.`comparator()`
  Returns the comparator used to order the elements in this queue, or `null` if this queue is sorted according to the natural ordering of its elements.
  `Comparator<? super K>`
  SortedMap.`comparator()`
  Returns the comparator used to order the keys in this map, or `null` if this map uses the natural ordering of its keys.
  `Comparator<? super E>`
  SortedSet.`comparator()`
  Returns the comparator used to order the elements in this set, or `null` if this set uses the natural ordering of its elements.
  `Comparator<? super K>`
  TreeMap.`comparator()`
  `Comparator<? super E>`
  TreeSet.`comparator()`
  `static <T, U extends Comparable<? super U>>
  Comparator<T>`
  Comparator.`comparing(Function<? super T, ? extends U> keyExtractor)`
  Accepts a function that extracts a `Comparable` sort key from a type `T`, and returns a `Comparator<T>` that compares by that sort key.
  `static <T,U> Comparator<T>`
  Comparator.`comparing(Function<? super T, ? extends U> keyExtractor, Comparator<? super U> keyComparator)`
  Accepts a function that extracts a sort key from a type `T`, and returns a `Comparator<T>` that compares by that sort key using the specified `Comparator`.
  `static <K extends Comparable<? super K>, V>
  Comparator<Map.Entry<K,V>>`
  Map.Entry.`comparingByKey()`
  Returns a comparator that compares `Map.Entry` in natural order on key.
  `static <K,V> Comparator<Map.Entry<K,V>>`
  Map.Entry.`comparingByKey(Comparator<? super K> cmp)`
  Returns a comparator that compares `Map.Entry` by key using the given `Comparator`.
  `static <K, V extends Comparable<? super V>>
  Comparator<Map.Entry<K,V>>`
  Map.Entry.`comparingByValue()`
  Returns a comparator that compares `Map.Entry` in natural order on value.
  `static <K,V> Comparator<Map.Entry<K,V>>`
  Map.Entry.`comparingByValue(Comparator<? super V> cmp)`
  Returns a comparator that compares `Map.Entry` by value using the given `Comparator`.
  `static <T> Comparator<T>`
  Comparator.`comparingDouble(ToDoubleFunction<? super T> keyExtractor)`
  Accepts a function that extracts a `double` sort key from a type `T`, and returns a `Comparator<T>` that compares by that sort key.
  `static <T> Comparator<T>`
  Comparator.`comparingInt(ToIntFunction<? super T> keyExtractor)`
  Accepts a function that extracts an `int` sort key from a type `T`, and returns a `Comparator<T>` that compares by that sort key.
  `static <T> Comparator<T>`
  Comparator.`comparingLong(ToLongFunction<? super T> keyExtractor)`
  Accepts a function that extracts a `long` sort key from a type `T`, and returns a `Comparator<T>` that compares by that sort key.
  `default Comparator<? super T>`
  Spliterator.`getComparator()`
  If this Spliterator's source is `Spliterator.SORTED` by a `Comparator`, returns that `Comparator`.
  `static <T extends Comparable<? super T>>
  Comparator<T>`
  Comparator.`naturalOrder()`
  Returns a comparator that compares `Comparable` objects in natural order.
  `static <T> Comparator<T>`
  Comparator.`nullsFirst(Comparator<? super T> comparator)`
  Returns a null-friendly comparator that considers `null` to be less than non-null.
  `static <T> Comparator<T>`
  Comparator.`nullsLast(Comparator<? super T> comparator)`
  Returns a null-friendly comparator that considers `null` to be greater than non-null.
  `default Comparator<T>`
  Comparator.`reversed()`
  Returns a comparator that imposes the reverse ordering of this comparator.
  `static <T> Comparator<T>`
  Collections.`reverseOrder()`
  Returns a comparator that imposes the reverse of the natural ordering on a collection of objects that implement the `Comparable` interface.
  `static <T> Comparator<T>`
  Collections.`reverseOrder(Comparator<T> cmp)`
  Returns a comparator that imposes the reverse ordering of the specified comparator.
  `static <T extends Comparable<? super T>>
  Comparator<T>`
  Comparator.`reverseOrder()`
  Returns a comparator that imposes the reverse of the natural ordering.
  `default Comparator<T>`
  Comparator.`thenComparing(Comparator<? super T> other)`
  Returns a lexicographic-order comparator with another comparator.
  `default <U extends Comparable<? super U>>
  Comparator<T>`
  Comparator.`thenComparing(Function<? super T, ? extends U> keyExtractor)`
  Returns a lexicographic-order comparator with a function that extracts a `Comparable` sort key.
  `default <U> Comparator<T>`
  Comparator.`thenComparing(Function<? super T, ? extends U> keyExtractor, Comparator<? super U> keyComparator)`
  Returns a lexicographic-order comparator with a function that extracts a key to be compared with the given `Comparator`.
  `default Comparator<T>`
  Comparator.`thenComparingDouble(ToDoubleFunction<? super T> keyExtractor)`
  Returns a lexicographic-order comparator with a function that extracts a `double` sort key.
  `default Comparator<T>`
  Comparator.`thenComparingInt(ToIntFunction<? super T> keyExtractor)`
  Returns a lexicographic-order comparator with a function that extracts an `int` sort key.
  `default Comparator<T>`
  Comparator.`thenComparingLong(ToLongFunction<? super T> keyExtractor)`
  Returns a lexicographic-order comparator with a function that extracts a `long` sort key.
  Methods in java.util with parameters of type Comparator
  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `static <T> int`
  Arrays.`binarySearch(T[] a, int fromIndex, int toIndex, T key, Comparator<? super T> c)`
  Searches a range of the specified array for the specified object using the binary search algorithm.
  `static <T> int`
  Arrays.`binarySearch(T[] a, T key, Comparator<? super T> c)`
  Searches the specified array for the specified object using the binary search algorithm.
  `static <T> int`
  Collections.`binarySearch(List<? extends T> list, T key, Comparator<? super T> c)`
  Searches the specified list for the specified object using the binary search algorithm.
  `static <T> int`
  Arrays.`compare(T[] a, int aFromIndex, int aToIndex, T[] b, int bFromIndex, int bToIndex, Comparator<? super T> cmp)`
  Compares two `Object` arrays lexicographically over the specified ranges.
  `static <T> int`
  Arrays.`compare(T[] a, T[] b, Comparator<? super T> cmp)`
  Compares two `Object` arrays lexicographically using a specified comparator.
  `static <T> int`
  Objects.`compare(T a, T b, Comparator<? super T> c)`
  Returns 0 if the arguments are identical and `c.compare(a, b)` otherwise.
  `static <T,U> Comparator<T>`
  Comparator.`comparing(Function<? super T, ? extends U> keyExtractor, Comparator<? super U> keyComparator)`
  Accepts a function that extracts a sort key from a type `T`, and returns a `Comparator<T>` that compares by that sort key using the specified `Comparator`.
  `static <K,V> Comparator<Map.Entry<K,V>>`
  Map.Entry.`comparingByKey(Comparator<? super K> cmp)`
  Returns a comparator that compares `Map.Entry` by key using the given `Comparator`.
  `static <K,V> Comparator<Map.Entry<K,V>>`
  Map.Entry.`comparingByValue(Comparator<? super V> cmp)`
  Returns a comparator that compares `Map.Entry` by value using the given `Comparator`.
  `static <T> boolean`
  Arrays.`equals(T[] a, int aFromIndex, int aToIndex, T[] b, int bFromIndex, int bToIndex, Comparator<? super T> cmp)`
  Returns true if the two specified arrays of Objects, over the specified ranges, are equal to one another.
  `static <T> boolean`
  Arrays.`equals(T[] a, T[] a2, Comparator<? super T> cmp)`
  Returns `true` if the two specified arrays of Objects are equal to one another.
  `static <T> T`
  Collections.`max(Collection<? extends T> coll, Comparator<? super T> comp)`
  Returns the maximum element of the given collection, according to the order induced by the specified comparator.
  `static <T> T`
  Collections.`min(Collection<? extends T> coll, Comparator<? super T> comp)`
  Returns the minimum element of the given collection, according to the order induced by the specified comparator.
  `static <T> int`
  Arrays.`mismatch(T[] a, int aFromIndex, int aToIndex, T[] b, int bFromIndex, int bToIndex, Comparator<? super T> cmp)`
  Finds and returns the relative index of the first mismatch between two `Object` arrays over the specified ranges, otherwise return -1 if no mismatch is found.
  `static <T> int`
  Arrays.`mismatch(T[] a, T[] b, Comparator<? super T> cmp)`
  Finds and returns the index of the first mismatch between two `Object` arrays, otherwise return -1 if no mismatch is found.
  `static <T> Comparator<T>`
  Comparator.`nullsFirst(Comparator<? super T> comparator)`
  Returns a null-friendly comparator that considers `null` to be less than non-null.
  `static <T> Comparator<T>`
  Comparator.`nullsLast(Comparator<? super T> comparator)`
  Returns a null-friendly comparator that considers `null` to be greater than non-null.
  `static <T> void`
  Arrays.`parallelSort(T[] a, int fromIndex, int toIndex, Comparator<? super T> cmp)`
  Sorts the specified range of the specified array of objects according to the order induced by the specified comparator.
  `static <T> void`
  Arrays.`parallelSort(T[] a, Comparator<? super T> cmp)`
  Sorts the specified array of objects according to the order induced by the specified comparator.
  `static <T> Comparator<T>`
  Collections.`reverseOrder(Comparator<T> cmp)`
  Returns a comparator that imposes the reverse ordering of the specified comparator.
  `static <T> void`
  Arrays.`sort(T[] a, int fromIndex, int toIndex, Comparator<? super T> c)`
  Sorts the specified range of the specified array of objects according to the order induced by the specified comparator.
  `static <T> void`
  Arrays.`sort(T[] a, Comparator<? super T> c)`
  Sorts the specified array of objects according to the order induced by the specified comparator.
  `static <T> void`
  Collections.`sort(List<T> list, Comparator<? super T> c)`
  Sorts the specified list according to the order induced by the specified comparator.
  `default void`
  List.`sort(Comparator<? super E> c)`
  Sorts this list according to the order induced by the specified `Comparator` (optional operation).
  `default Comparator<T>`
  Comparator.`thenComparing(Comparator<? super T> other)`
  Returns a lexicographic-order comparator with another comparator.
  `default <U> Comparator<T>`
  Comparator.`thenComparing(Function<? super T, ? extends U> keyExtractor, Comparator<? super U> keyComparator)`
  Returns a lexicographic-order comparator with a function that extracts a key to be compared with the given `Comparator`.
  Constructors in java.util with parameters of type Comparator
  Modifier
  Constructor
  Description
  ``
  `PriorityQueue(int initialCapacity, Comparator<? super E> comparator)`
  Creates a `PriorityQueue` with the specified initial capacity that orders its elements according to the specified comparator.
  ``
  `PriorityQueue(Comparator<? super E> comparator)`
  Creates a `PriorityQueue` with the default initial capacity and whose elements are ordered according to the specified comparator.
  ``
  `TreeMap(Comparator<? super K> comparator)`
  Constructs a new, empty tree map, ordered according to the given comparator.
  ``
  `TreeSet(Comparator<? super E> comparator)`
  Constructs a new, empty tree set, sorted according to the specified comparator.

- ## Uses of Comparator in java.util.concurrent

  Methods in java.util.concurrent that return Comparator
  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `Comparator<? super K>`
  ConcurrentSkipListMap.`comparator()`
  `Comparator<? super E>`
  ConcurrentSkipListSet.`comparator()`
  `Comparator<? super E>`
  PriorityBlockingQueue.`comparator()`
  Returns the comparator used to order the elements in this queue, or `null` if this queue uses the natural ordering of its elements.
  Constructors in java.util.concurrent with parameters of type Comparator
  Modifier
  Constructor
  Description
  ``
  `ConcurrentSkipListMap(Comparator<? super K> comparator)`
  Constructs a new, empty map, sorted according to the specified comparator.
  ``
  `ConcurrentSkipListSet(Comparator<? super E> comparator)`
  Constructs a new, empty set that orders its elements according to the specified comparator.
  ``
  `PriorityBlockingQueue(int initialCapacity, Comparator<? super E> comparator)`
  Creates a `PriorityBlockingQueue` with the specified initial capacity that orders its elements according to the specified comparator.

- ## Uses of Comparator in java.util.function

  Methods in java.util.function with parameters of type Comparator
  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `static <T> BinaryOperator<T>`
  BinaryOperator.`maxBy(Comparator<? super T> comparator)`
  Returns a `BinaryOperator` which returns the greater of two elements according to the specified `Comparator`.
  `static <T> BinaryOperator<T>`
  BinaryOperator.`minBy(Comparator<? super T> comparator)`
  Returns a `BinaryOperator` which returns the lesser of two elements according to the specified `Comparator`.

- ## Uses of Comparator in java.util.stream

  Methods in java.util.stream with parameters of type Comparator
  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `Optional<T>`
  Stream.`max(Comparator<? super T> comparator)`
  Returns the maximum element of this stream according to the provided `Comparator`.
  `static <T> Collector<T, ?, Optional<T>>`
  Collectors.`maxBy(Comparator<? super T> comparator)`
  Returns a `Collector` that produces the maximal element according to a given `Comparator`, described as an `Optional<T>`.
  `Optional<T>`
  Stream.`min(Comparator<? super T> comparator)`
  Returns the minimum element of this stream according to the provided `Comparator`.
  `static <T> Collector<T, ?, Optional<T>>`
  Collectors.`minBy(Comparator<? super T> comparator)`
  Returns a `Collector` that produces the minimal element according to a given `Comparator`, described as an `Optional<T>`.
  `Stream<T>`
  Stream.`sorted(Comparator<? super T> comparator)`
  Returns a stream consisting of the elements of this stream, sorted according to the provided `Comparator`.

- ## Uses of Comparator in javax.swing

  Methods in javax.swing that return Comparator
  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `Comparator<?>`
  DefaultRowSorter.`getComparator(int column)`
  Returns the `Comparator` for the specified column.
  `protected Comparator<? super Component>`
  SortingFocusTraversalPolicy.`getComparator()`
  Returns the Comparator which will be used to sort the Components in a focus traversal cycle.
  Methods in javax.swing with parameters of type Comparator
  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `void`
  DefaultRowSorter.`setComparator(int column, Comparator<?> comparator)`
  Sets the `Comparator` to use when sorting the specified column.
  `protected void`
  SortingFocusTraversalPolicy.`setComparator(Comparator<? super Component> comparator)`
  Sets the Comparator which will be used to sort the Components in a focus traversal cycle.
  Constructors in javax.swing with parameters of type Comparator
  Modifier
  Constructor
  Description
  ``
  `SortingFocusTraversalPolicy(Comparator<? super Component> comparator)`
  Constructs a SortingFocusTraversalPolicy with the specified Comparator.

- ## Uses of Comparator in javax.swing.table

  Methods in javax.swing.table that return Comparator
  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `Comparator<?>`
  TableRowSorter.`getComparator(int column)`
  Returns the `Comparator` for the specified column.