equals method to compare two objects?

:confused:
Is it possible to compare 2 objects like we do with Strings using equals() method.
for e.g,
class A
{
int a=10,b=10,c=10;
}
class Equals
{
public static void main(String s[])
{
A a,b;
a=new A();
b=new A();
if(a.equals(b))
System.out.println("We r same...");
else
System.out.println("We r not same...");

}
}

this program gives me "We r not same....."
How does equals() work in this program?
if any one can help.....!!!

if you want to compare objects, use "==" operator

a == b
returns true if and only if a is the same instance as b.

a.equals(b)
returns true if the instances are considered equal by the "equals" method,
if you haven't written any "equals" method it will return a == b.


I suggest you add a equals method to A:

Code:

---

@Override //Not needed
public boolean equals(A obj)
{
    return (obj != null) && (this.a == obj.a) && (this.b == obj.b) && (this.c == obj.c)
}

---

thnx,
That means equals method is overridden for all inbuilt classes of Java.
and if we want the same functionality we have to override that method.
Am i right?

It is good practice to override the equals method for your own classes and it's a must if there will be checks for equality of instances.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Yuvarajsinh

thnx,
That means equals method is overridden for all inbuilt classes of Java.
and if we want the same functionality we have to override that method.
Am i right?

---

Yep, you're right; as a rule of thumb, if you implement an equals( ... ) method you should also implement the hashCode() method so your class can be stored in a collection (think of a HashSet). Also note that if you want your objects to be 'storable' in such a collection you should be careful when you change the state (member variables) of your object that influence the result of your equals( ... ) method and/or your hashCode() method.

kind regards,

Jos