Java Comparator: Purpose & Usage Guide

A Java comparator is an interface used to compare objects, defining a method for comparing two objects. Comparators can be used to sort objects or determine their relative sizes. They are commonly used in collection classes, such as sorting arrays or elements in a collection.

Comparators are typically used to implement custom sorting rules rather than relying on the default comparison methods provided by object classes. By implementing the Comparator interface, you can define the comparison rules between objects based on your specific needs, such as sorting by the size of a particular attribute or comparing objects in a specific order.

In general, the role of Java comparators is to allow developers to customize the comparison rules of objects, making it more flexible to compare and sort objects.