What is the difference between the equals() method and the equality operator (==) in Java?
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- May 03, 2025
Here's a clear explanation of the difference between equals() method and the equality operator (==) in Java:
1) Equality Operator (==)
Used to compare primitive types or to check whether two references point to the exact same object.2) Method (equals())
Compares the actual contents (logical equality) of two objects. The default implementation in Object class behaves like ==, but many classes (like String, Integer, etc.) override it.Summary
| Aspect | == Operator |
equals() Method |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Operator | Method (defined in Object class) |
| Used For | Reference comparison | Logical/content comparison |
| Compares | Whether two references point to the same object | Whether two objects are meaningfully equal |
| Works On | Both primitives and objects | Objects only (not primitives) |
| Can Be Overridden | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (commonly overridden in custom classes) |
| Default Behavior | Compares memory addresses (for objects) | Same as == unless overridden |