# 
##   

The **`compare()` method** is a static method of the `Objects` class. This method takes in two objects and a `Comparator` that compares the input objects.

* The method returns zero if the objects are identical.
* If the objects are not identical, the method uses the comparator to compare them.
* If both the objects passed point to `null` reference, then the method returns zero.

>To use the `compare()` method, you must import the following module.

```
java.util.Objects
```

# 
#  Syntax

The syntax of the `compare()` method is as follows.

---
```
public static <T> int compare(T a, T b, Comparator<? super T> c)
```
---

# 
## Parameters

The `compare()` method takes the following parameters.
* `T a`: first object.  

* `T b`: second object.  

* `Comparator<? super T> c`: The Comparator used to compare the two objects.

##
## Return value

The method returns zero if the arguments are identical.  Otherwise, it returns the return value of the `compare` method of the `Comparator` object.

## 
### Example 1
In the code below, we pass the `null` value as objects to the method.

import java.util.Objects;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Object a = null;
        Object b = null;
        System.out.println(Objects.compare(a, b, null));
    }
}

If we run the program, it will print zero.
```
0
```

### Example 2

In the code snippet below, we pass the integer values as objects to the method and an integer comparator.

import java.util.Objects;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int a = 9;
        int b = 4;
        System.out.println(Objects.compare(a, b, Integer::compareTo));
    }
}

If we run the program above, it will print 1, as the first integer object is greater than the second one.

```
1
```

### Example 3

In the code below, we pass the integer values as objects to the method and an integer `comparator`.

import java.util.Objects;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int a = 4;
        int b = 9;
        System.out.println(Objects.compare(a, b, Integer::compareTo));
    }
}

If we run the program above, it should print -1, as the first integer object is lesser than the second one.

```
-1
```

What is Objects.compare() in Java?

It compares two objects using a Comparator, returning 0 if identical, otherwise using Comparator's result.

What is Objects.compare() in Java?

Syntax

Parameters

Return value

Code

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3