What is the difference between Comparators and Comparable in Java?

What is the difference between Comparators and Comparable in Java?

In Java, Comparable is an interface that allows a class to define its natural ordering, while Comparator is used to define an external ordering.

Can you give me an example of how to use both?

Sure! For Comparable, you can implement it in a class like this: public class Person implements Comparable<Person> { ... }. For Comparator, you can create a separate class or use a lambda expression to define the comparison logic.

When should I use Comparator instead of Comparable?

Use Comparator when you need multiple ways to sort objects or when you cannot modify the class to implement Comparable.

Are there any performance differences between the two?

Generally, the performance difference is negligible, but using Comparable can be slightly faster since it doesn't require creating a separate Comparator object.