 **`compare()`** is a static method of the `Long` class which is used to compare two `long` values. 


#    
## Syntax 

```java
public static int compare(long x, long y);
```

## Parameters

The function takes in two `long` values as parameters.
## Return value
This method returns:

* `0` if both the values are the same. 
* A value less than zero, if `x` is less than `y`.

* A value greater than zero, if the `x` is greater than `y`.

Long.compare(x,y)

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## Code

The example below uses the `Long.compare()` method.

class LongCompare {
    public static void main( String args[] ) {
        long ten = 10l;
        long twenty = 20l;
        
        System.out.println("ten, ten : " +  Long.compare(ten, ten));
        System.out.println("twenty, twenty : " +  Long.compare(twenty, twenty));
        System.out.println("ten, twenty : " +  Long.compare(ten, twenty));
        System.out.println("twenty, ten : " +  Long.compare(twenty, ten));
    }
}

## Explanation

In the code above:

* We created two `long` variables: 

```
ten = 10l;
twenty = 20l;
```

* We used the `compare()` method of the `Long` class to compare the `long` values. First, we compared the same values: 

```
compare(ten,ten);
compare(twenty, twenty);

``` 
* The `compare()` method returns `0` because both the compared values are the same.

* Then, we compared `ten` with `twenty`:

```
compare(ten, twenty);
```
* The `compare()` method returns a value `< 0` because the first value is less than the second value.

* Then, we compared `twenty`  with `ten`:

```
compare(twenty, ten);
```
* The `compare()` method returns a value `> 0` because the first value is greater than the second value.

What is the Long.compare method in Java?

Long.compare() is a static method for comparing two long values, returning 0, < 0, or > 0.

Case	Retturn Value
x == y	0
x < y	< 0
x > y	> 0