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PriorityQueue comparator() Method in Java

Last Updated : 11 Jul, 2025
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The java.util.PriorityQueue.comparator() method shares an important function of setting and returning the comparator that can be used to order the elements in a PriorityQueue. The method returns a null value if the queue follows the natural ordering pattern of the elements.
Syntax: 

comp_set = (PriorityQueue)Priority_Queue.comparator()


Parameters: The method does not take any parameters.
Return Value: The method returns the comparator used to order the elements of the queue in a specific order. It returns a Null value if the queue follows the default or natural ordering pattern.
Below programs illustrate the java.util.PriorityQueue.comparator() method: 
Program 1: When using natural ordering of the elements: 
 

Java 
// Java code to illustrate comparator()
import java.util.*;

public class Priority_Queue_Demo {
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {

        // Creating an empty Priority_Queue
        PriorityQueue<Integer> queue = new PriorityQueue<Integer>();

        // Adding elements to the queue
        queue.add(20);
        queue.add(24);
        queue.add(30);
        queue.add(35);
        queue.add(45);
        queue.add(50);

        System.out.println("Priority queue values are: " + queue);

        // Creating a comparator
        Comparator comp = queue.comparator();

        // Displaying the comparator values
        System.out.println("Since the Comparator value is: " + comp);
        System.out.println("it follows natural ordering");
    }
}

Output: 
Priority queue values are: [20, 24, 30, 35, 45, 50]
Since the Comparator value is: null
it follows natural ordering

 

Program 2: When using a specific comparator. 
 

Java 
// Java code to illustrate the use of comparator()
import java.util.Comparator;
import java.util.PriorityQueue;

class The_Comparator implements Comparator<String> {
    public int compare(String str1, String str2)
    {
        String first_Str;
        String second_Str;
        first_Str = str1;
        second_Str = str2;
        return second_Str.compareTo(first_Str);
    }
}

public class Priority_Queue_Demo {
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        PriorityQueue<String> queue = new 
        PriorityQueue<String>(new The_Comparator());

        queue.add("G");
        queue.add("E");
        queue.add("E");
        queue.add("K");
        queue.add("S");
        queue.add("4");
        

        System.out.println("The elements with the highest priority element at front of queue"
                           + "order:");
        while(!queue.isEmpty()){
          System.out.print(" "+queue.poll());
        }
    }
}

Output
The elements with the highest priority element at front of queueorder:
 S K G E E 4

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