/*
 * Comparator.java - an interface that defines comparison operations
 *
 * Copyright (c) 1996 Chuck McManis, All Rights Reserved.
 *
 * Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software
 * and its documentation for NON-COMMERCIAL purposes and without
 * fee is hereby granted provided that this copyright notice
 * appears in all copies.
 *
 * CHUCK MCMANIS MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES ABOUT THE
 * SUITABILITY OF THE SOFTWARE, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING
 * BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
 * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. CHUCK MCMANIS
 * SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES SUFFERED BY LICENSEE AS A RESULT
 * OF USING, MODIFYING OR DISTRIBUTING THIS SOFTWARE OR ITS DERIVATIVES.
 */

package util;

public interface Comparator {
    /**
     * Compare two objects, return -1 if a < b, 0 if a == b, and 1 if a > b.
     */
    abstract public int compare(Object a, Object b);

    /**
     * Return true if both objects are identical.
     */
    abstract public boolean equals(Object a, Object b);

    /**
     * Return true if object a is greater than object b
     */
    abstract public boolean greaterThan(Object a, Object b);

    /**
     * Return true if object a is greater than or equal to object b.
     */
    abstract public boolean greaterEqual(Object a, Object b);


    /**
     * Return true if object a is less than object b
     */
    abstract public boolean lessThan(Object a, Object b);

    /**
     * Return true if object a is less than or equal to object b.
     */
    abstract public boolean lessEqual(Object a, Object b);
}