What is the purpose of the equals() method in Java?

What is the purpose of the equals() method in Java?

The equals() method in Java is used to compare two objects for equality. It checks if they are logically equivalent.

How does it differ from the == operator?

The == operator checks for reference equality, meaning it checks if both references point to the same object in memory.

Can you show me an example of how to override the equals() method?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

@Override
public boolean equals(Object obj) {
    if (this == obj) return true;
    if (obj == null || getClass() != obj.getClass()) return false;
    MyClass myClass = (MyClass) obj;
    return this.id == myClass.id;
}

What should I also override when I override equals()?

You should also override the hashCode() method to maintain the general contract for the hashCode method.