Difference between Comparable and Comparator?

[mansi gupte]

Can anyone explain the difference between these two?? with an example?

[Campbell Ritchie]

Have you read the API documentation? Here, and here.

Comparable "lives inside the class" and says "I differ from other objects of the same class and I can tell you the difference."
Comparator "lives outside the class" and says "I can find out which objects differ in this respect."
You can use several Comparators on the same class.

[mansi gupte]

Campbell Ritchie wrote:Have you read the API documentation? Here, and here.

Comparable "lives inside the class" and says "I differ from other objects of the same class and I can tell you the difference."
Comparator "lives outside the class" and says "I can find out which objects differ in this respect."
You can use several Comparators on the same class.

hey ,
thanks for the prompt reply.i will take this one as a reference to understand better.

PS:I read the API Doc , but got ,more confused due to the verbosity.

[Campbell Ritchie]

You're welcome