What is the difference between the Comparable and Comparator interfaces in Java?

In Java, both Comparable and Comparator interfaces are used to sort collections. The Comparable interface is used to provide a natural ordering of objects, while the Comparator interface is used to provide a custom ordering of objects.

The Comparable interface has only one method, compareTo(), which is used to define the natural ordering of objects. When we implement the Comparable interface, we have to define the natural order of objects in the compareTo() method.

The Comparator interface has two methods, compare() and equals(). The compare() method is used to define the custom ordering of objects, and the equals() method is used to check for equality. When we implement the Comparator interface, we have to define the custom ordering of objects in the compare() method.

One of the main differences between the Comparable and Comparator interfaces is that the Comparable interface is used for objects that have a natural ordering, while the Comparator interface is used for objects that do not have a natural ordering or for objects whose natural ordering is not appropriate for sorting.