001/*
002 * Copyright (C) 2007 The Guava Authors
003 *
004 * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
005 * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
006 * You may obtain a copy of the License at
007 *
008 * http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
009 *
010 * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
011 * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
012 * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
013 * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
014 * limitations under the License.
015 */
016
017package com.google.common.collect;
018
019import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
020import static com.google.common.collect.CollectPreconditions.checkNonnegative;
021import static com.google.common.collect.Lists.asList;
022import static com.google.common.collect.Lists.newArrayList;
023import static java.util.Arrays.asList;
024import static java.util.Arrays.sort;
025import static java.util.Collections.emptyList;
026import static java.util.Collections.sort;
027import static java.util.Collections.unmodifiableList;
028
029import com.google.common.annotations.GwtCompatible;
030import com.google.common.annotations.GwtIncompatible;
031import com.google.common.annotations.J2ktIncompatible;
032import com.google.common.annotations.VisibleForTesting;
033import com.google.common.base.Function;
034import com.google.errorprone.annotations.InlineMe;
035import com.google.errorprone.annotations.InlineMeValidationDisabled;
036import java.util.ArrayList;
037import java.util.Arrays;
038import java.util.Collection;
039import java.util.Collections;
040import java.util.Comparator;
041import java.util.HashSet;
042import java.util.Iterator;
043import java.util.List;
044import java.util.Map.Entry;
045import java.util.NoSuchElementException;
046import java.util.SortedMap;
047import java.util.SortedSet;
048import java.util.TreeSet;
049import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentMap;
050import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicInteger;
051import org.jspecify.annotations.NonNull;
052import org.jspecify.annotations.Nullable;
053
054/**
055 * A comparator, with additional methods to support common operations. This is an "enriched" version
056 * of {@code Comparator} for pre-Java-8 users, in the same sense that {@link FluentIterable} is an
057 * enriched {@link Iterable} for pre-Java-8 users.
058 *
059 * <h2>Three types of methods</h2>
060 *
061 * Like other fluent types, there are three types of methods present: methods for <i>acquiring</i>,
062 * <i>chaining</i>, and <i>using</i>.
063 *
064 * <h3>Acquiring</h3>
065 *
066 * <p>The common ways to get an instance of {@code Ordering} are:
067 *
068 * <ul>
069 *   <li>Subclass it and implement {@link #compare} instead of implementing {@link Comparator}
070 *       directly
071 *   <li>Pass a <i>pre-existing</i> {@link Comparator} instance to {@link #from(Comparator)}
072 *   <li>Use the natural ordering, {@link Ordering#natural}
073 * </ul>
074 *
075 * <h3>Chaining</h3>
076 *
077 * <p>Then you can use the <i>chaining</i> methods to get an altered version of that {@code
078 * Ordering}, including:
079 *
080 * <ul>
081 *   <li>{@link #reverse}
082 *   <li>{@link #compound(Comparator)}
083 *   <li>{@link #onResultOf(Function)}
084 *   <li>{@link #nullsFirst} / {@link #nullsLast}
085 * </ul>
086 *
087 * <h3>Using</h3>
088 *
089 * <p>Finally, use the resulting {@code Ordering} anywhere a {@link Comparator} is required, or use
090 * any of its special operations, such as:
091 *
092 * <ul>
093 *   <li>{@link #immutableSortedCopy}
094 *   <li>{@link #isOrdered} / {@link #isStrictlyOrdered}
095 *   <li>{@link #min} / {@link #max}
096 * </ul>
097 *
098 * <h2>Understanding complex orderings</h2>
099 *
100 * <p>Complex chained orderings like the following example can be challenging to understand.
101 *
102 * {@snippet :
103 * Ordering<Foo> ordering =
104 *     Ordering.natural()
105 *         .nullsFirst()
106 *         .onResultOf(getBarFunction)
107 *         .nullsLast();
108 * }
109 *
110 * Note that each chaining method returns a new ordering instance which is backed by the previous
111 * instance, but has the chance to act on values <i>before</i> handing off to that backing instance.
112 * As a result, it usually helps to read chained ordering expressions <i>backwards</i>. For example,
113 * when {@code compare} is called on the above ordering:
114 *
115 * <ol>
116 *   <li>First, if only one {@code Foo} is null, that null value is treated as <i>greater</i>
117 *   <li>Next, non-null {@code Foo} values are passed to {@code getBarFunction} (we will be
118 *       comparing {@code Bar} values from now on)
119 *   <li>Next, if only one {@code Bar} is null, that null value is treated as <i>lesser</i>
120 *   <li>Finally, natural ordering is used (i.e. the result of {@code Bar.compareTo(Bar)} is
121 *       returned)
122 * </ol>
123 *
124 * <p>Alas, {@link #reverse} is a little different. As you read backwards through a chain and
125 * encounter a call to {@code reverse}, continue working backwards until a result is determined, and
126 * then reverse that result.
127 *
128 * <h2>Additional notes</h2>
129 *
130 * <p>Except as noted, the orderings returned by the factory methods of this class are serializable
131 * if and only if the provided instances that back them are. For example, if {@code ordering} and
132 * {@code function} can themselves be serialized, then {@code ordering.onResultOf(function)} can as
133 * well.
134 *
135 * <h2>Java 8+ users</h2>
136 *
137 * <p>If you are using Java 8+, this class is now obsolete. Most of its functionality is now
138 * provided by {@link java.util.stream.Stream Stream} and by {@link Comparator} itself, and the rest
139 * can now be found as static methods in our new {@link Comparators} class. See each method below
140 * for further instructions. Whenever possible, you should change any references of type {@code
141 * Ordering} to be of type {@code Comparator} instead. However, at this time we have no plan to
142 * <i>deprecate</i> this class.
143 *
144 * <p>Many replacements involve adopting {@code Stream}, and these changes can sometimes make your
145 * code verbose. Whenever following this advice, you should check whether {@code Stream} could be
146 * adopted more comprehensively in your code; the end result may be quite a bit simpler.
147 *
148 * <h2>See also</h2>
149 *
150 * <p>See the Guava User Guide article on <a href=
151 * "https://github.com/google/guava/wiki/OrderingExplained">{@code Ordering}</a>.
152 *
153 * @author Jesse Wilson
154 * @author Kevin Bourrillion
155 * @since 2.0
156 */
157@GwtCompatible
158public abstract class Ordering<T extends @Nullable Object> implements Comparator<T> {
159  // Natural order
160
161  /**
162   * Returns a serializable ordering that uses the natural order of the values. The ordering throws
163   * a {@link NullPointerException} when passed a null parameter.
164   *
165   * <p>The type specification is {@code <C extends Comparable>}, instead of the technically correct
166   * {@code <C extends Comparable<? super C>>}, to support legacy types from before Java 5.
167   *
168   * <p><b>Java 8+ users:</b> use {@link Comparator#naturalOrder} instead.
169   */
170  @SuppressWarnings({"unchecked", "rawtypes"})
171  // TODO(kevinb): right way to explain this??
172  // plus https://github.com/google/guava/issues/989
173  public static <C extends Comparable> Ordering<C> natural() {
174    return (Ordering<C>) NaturalOrdering.INSTANCE;
175  }
176
177  // Static factories
178
179  /**
180   * Returns an ordering based on an <i>existing</i> comparator instance. Note that it is
181   * unnecessary to create a <i>new</i> anonymous inner class implementing {@code Comparator} just
182   * to pass it in here. Instead, simply subclass {@code Ordering} and implement its {@code compare}
183   * method directly.
184   *
185   * <p>The returned object is serializable if {@code comparator} is serializable.
186   *
187   * <p><b>Java 8+ users:</b> this class is now obsolete as explained in the class documentation, so
188   * there is no need to use this method.
189   *
190   * @param comparator the comparator that defines the order
191   * @return comparator itself if it is already an {@code Ordering}; otherwise an ordering that
192   *     wraps that comparator
193   */
194  public static <T extends @Nullable Object> Ordering<T> from(Comparator<T> comparator) {
195    return (comparator instanceof Ordering)
196        ? (Ordering<T>) comparator
197        : new ComparatorOrdering<T>(comparator);
198  }
199
200  /**
201   * Simply returns its argument.
202   *
203   * @deprecated no need to use this
204   */
205  @InlineMe(
206      replacement = "checkNotNull(ordering)",
207      staticImports = "com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull")
208  @Deprecated
209  public static <T extends @Nullable Object> Ordering<T> from(Ordering<T> ordering) {
210    return checkNotNull(ordering);
211  }
212
213  /**
214   * Returns an ordering that compares objects according to the order in which they appear in the
215   * given list. Only objects present in the list (according to {@link Object#equals}) may be
216   * compared. This comparator imposes a "partial ordering" over the type {@code T}. Subsequent
217   * changes to the {@code valuesInOrder} list will have no effect on the returned comparator. Null
218   * values in the list are not supported.
219   *
220   * <p>The returned comparator throws a {@link ClassCastException} when it receives an input
221   * parameter that isn't among the provided values.
222   *
223   * <p>The generated comparator is serializable if all the provided values are serializable.
224   *
225   * @param valuesInOrder the values that the returned comparator will be able to compare, in the
226   *     order the comparator should induce
227   * @return the comparator described above
228   * @throws NullPointerException if any of the provided values is null
229   * @throws IllegalArgumentException if {@code valuesInOrder} contains any duplicate values
230   *     (according to {@link Object#equals})
231   */
232  // TODO(kevinb): provide replacement
233  public static <T> Ordering<T> explicit(List<T> valuesInOrder) {
234    return new ExplicitOrdering<>(valuesInOrder);
235  }
236
237  /**
238   * Returns an ordering that compares objects according to the order in which they are given to
239   * this method. Only objects present in the argument list (according to {@link Object#equals}) may
240   * be compared. This comparator imposes a "partial ordering" over the type {@code T}. Null values
241   * in the argument list are not supported.
242   *
243   * <p>The returned comparator throws a {@link ClassCastException} when it receives an input
244   * parameter that isn't among the provided values.
245   *
246   * <p>The generated comparator is serializable if all the provided values are serializable.
247   *
248   * @param leastValue the value which the returned comparator should consider the "least" of all
249   *     values
250   * @param remainingValuesInOrder the rest of the values that the returned comparator will be able
251   *     to compare, in the order the comparator should follow
252   * @return the comparator described above
253   * @throws NullPointerException if any of the provided values is null
254   * @throws IllegalArgumentException if any duplicate values (according to {@link
255   *     Object#equals(Object)}) are present among the method arguments
256   */
257  // TODO(kevinb): provide replacement
258  public static <T> Ordering<T> explicit(T leastValue, T... remainingValuesInOrder) {
259    return explicit(asList(leastValue, remainingValuesInOrder));
260  }
261
262  // Ordering<Object> singletons
263
264  /**
265   * Returns an ordering which treats all values as equal, indicating "no ordering." Passing this
266   * ordering to any <i>stable</i> sort algorithm results in no change to the order of elements.
267   * Note especially that {@link #sortedCopy} and {@link #immutableSortedCopy} are stable, and in
268   * the returned instance these are implemented by simply copying the source list.
269   *
270   * <p>Example:
271   *
272   * {@snippet :
273   * Ordering.allEqual().nullsLast().sortedCopy(asList(t, null, e, s, null, t, null))
274   * }
275   *
276   * <p>Assuming {@code t}, {@code e} and {@code s} are non-null, this returns {@code [t, e, s, t,
277   * null, null, null]} regardless of the true comparison order of those three values (which might
278   * not even implement {@link Comparable} at all).
279   *
280   * <p><b>Warning:</b> by definition, this comparator is not <i>consistent with equals</i> (as
281   * defined {@linkplain Comparator here}). Avoid its use in APIs, such as {@link
282   * TreeSet#TreeSet(Comparator)}, where such consistency is expected.
283   *
284   * <p>The returned comparator is serializable.
285   *
286   * <p><b>Java 8+ users:</b> Use the lambda expression {@code (a, b) -> 0} instead (in certain
287   * cases you may need to cast that to {@code Comparator<YourType>}).
288   *
289   * @since 13.0
290   */
291  public static Ordering<@Nullable Object> allEqual() {
292    return AllEqualOrdering.INSTANCE;
293  }
294
295  /**
296   * Returns an ordering that compares objects by the natural ordering of their string
297   * representations as returned by {@code toString()}. It does not support null values.
298   *
299   * <p>The comparator is serializable.
300   *
301   * <p><b>Java 8+ users:</b> Use {@code Comparator.comparing(Object::toString)} instead.
302   */
303  public static Ordering<Object> usingToString() {
304    return UsingToStringOrdering.INSTANCE;
305  }
306
307  /**
308   * Returns an arbitrary ordering over all objects, for which {@code compare(a, b) == 0} implies
309   * {@code a == b} (identity equality). There is no meaning whatsoever to the order imposed, but it
310   * is constant for the life of the VM.
311   *
312   * <p>Because the ordering is identity-based, it is not "consistent with {@link
313   * Object#equals(Object)}" as defined by {@link Comparator}. Use caution when building a {@link
314   * SortedSet} or {@link SortedMap} from it, as the resulting collection will not behave exactly
315   * according to spec.
316   *
317   * <p>This ordering is not serializable, as its implementation relies on {@link
318   * System#identityHashCode(Object)}, so its behavior cannot be preserved across serialization.
319   *
320   * @since 2.0
321   */
322  // TODO(kevinb): copy to Comparators, etc.
323  @J2ktIncompatible // MapMaker
324  public static Ordering<@Nullable Object> arbitrary() {
325    return ArbitraryOrderingHolder.ARBITRARY_ORDERING;
326  }
327
328  @J2ktIncompatible // MapMaker
329  private static final class ArbitraryOrderingHolder {
330    static final Ordering<@Nullable Object> ARBITRARY_ORDERING = new ArbitraryOrdering();
331  }
332
333  @J2ktIncompatible // MapMaker
334  @VisibleForTesting
335  static class ArbitraryOrdering extends Ordering<@Nullable Object> {
336
337    private final AtomicInteger counter = new AtomicInteger(0);
338    private final ConcurrentMap<Object, Integer> uids =
339        Platform.tryWeakKeys(new MapMaker()).makeMap();
340
341    private Integer getUid(Object obj) {
342      Integer uid = uids.get(obj);
343      if (uid == null) {
344        // One or more integer values could be skipped in the event of a race
345        // to generate a UID for the same object from multiple threads, but
346        // that shouldn't be a problem.
347        uid = counter.getAndIncrement();
348        Integer alreadySet = uids.putIfAbsent(obj, uid);
349        if (alreadySet != null) {
350          uid = alreadySet;
351        }
352      }
353      return uid;
354    }
355
356    @Override
357    public int compare(@Nullable Object left, @Nullable Object right) {
358      if (left == right) {
359        return 0;
360      } else if (left == null) {
361        return -1;
362      } else if (right == null) {
363        return 1;
364      }
365      int leftCode = identityHashCode(left);
366      int rightCode = identityHashCode(right);
367      if (leftCode != rightCode) {
368        return leftCode < rightCode ? -1 : 1;
369      }
370
371      // identityHashCode collision (rare, but not as rare as you'd think)
372      int result = getUid(left).compareTo(getUid(right));
373      if (result == 0) {
374        throw new AssertionError(); // extremely, extremely unlikely.
375      }
376      return result;
377    }
378
379    @Override
380    public String toString() {
381      return "Ordering.arbitrary()";
382    }
383
384    /*
385     * We need to be able to mock identityHashCode() calls for tests, because it
386     * can take 1-10 seconds to find colliding objects. Mocking frameworks that
387     * can do magic to mock static method calls still can't do so for a system
388     * class, so we need the indirection. In production, Hotspot should still
389     * recognize that the call is 1-morphic and should still be willing to
390     * inline it if necessary.
391     */
392    int identityHashCode(Object object) {
393      return System.identityHashCode(object);
394    }
395  }
396
397  // Constructor
398
399  /**
400   * Constructs a new instance of this class (only invokable by the subclass constructor, typically
401   * implicit).
402   */
403  protected Ordering() {}
404
405  // Instance-based factories (and any static equivalents)
406
407  /**
408   * Returns the reverse of this ordering; the {@code Ordering} equivalent to {@link
409   * Collections#reverseOrder(Comparator)}.
410   *
411   * <p><b>Java 8+ users:</b> Use {@code thisComparator.reversed()} instead.
412   */
413  // type parameter <S> lets us avoid the extra <String> in statements like:
414  // Ordering<String> o = Ordering.<String>natural().reverse();
415  public <S extends T> Ordering<S> reverse() {
416    return new ReverseOrdering<>(this);
417  }
418
419  /**
420   * Returns an ordering that treats {@code null} as less than all other values and uses {@code
421   * this} to compare non-null values.
422   *
423   * <p>The returned object is serializable if this object is serializable.
424   *
425   * <p><b>Java 8+ users:</b> Use {@code Comparator.nullsFirst(thisComparator)} instead.
426   */
427  // type parameter <S> lets us avoid the extra <String> in statements like:
428  // Ordering<String> o = Ordering.<String>natural().nullsFirst();
429  public <S extends T> Ordering<@Nullable S> nullsFirst() {
430    return new NullsFirstOrdering<S>(this);
431  }
432
433  /**
434   * Returns an ordering that treats {@code null} as greater than all other values and uses this
435   * ordering to compare non-null values.
436   *
437   * <p>The returned object is serializable if this object is serializable.
438   *
439   * <p><b>Java 8+ users:</b> Use {@code Comparator.nullsLast(thisComparator)} instead.
440   */
441  // type parameter <S> lets us avoid the extra <String> in statements like:
442  // Ordering<String> o = Ordering.<String>natural().nullsLast();
443  public <S extends T> Ordering<@Nullable S> nullsLast() {
444    return new NullsLastOrdering<S>(this);
445  }
446
447  /**
448   * Returns a new ordering on {@code F} which orders elements by first applying a function to them,
449   * then comparing those results using {@code this}. For example, to compare objects by their
450   * string forms, in a case-insensitive manner, use:
451   *
452   * {@snippet :
453   * Ordering.from(String.CASE_INSENSITIVE_ORDER).onResultOf(Functions.toStringFunction())
454   * }
455   *
456   * <p><b>Java 8+ users:</b> Use {@code Comparator.comparing(function, thisComparator)} instead
457   * (you can omit the comparator if it is the natural order).
458   */
459  public <F extends @Nullable Object> Ordering<F> onResultOf(Function<F, ? extends T> function) {
460    return new ByFunctionOrdering<>(function, this);
461  }
462
463  <T2 extends T> Ordering<Entry<T2, ?>> onKeys() {
464    return onResultOf(Entry::getKey);
465  }
466
467  /**
468   * Returns an ordering which first uses the ordering {@code this}, but which in the event of a
469   * "tie", then delegates to {@code secondaryComparator}. For example, to sort a bug list first by
470   * status and second by priority, you might use {@code byStatus.compound(byPriority)}. For a
471   * compound ordering with three or more components, simply chain multiple calls to this method.
472   *
473   * <p>An ordering produced by this method, or a chain of calls to this method, is equivalent to
474   * one created using {@link Ordering#compound(Iterable)} on the same component comparators.
475   *
476   * <p>The returned object is serializable if this object and {@code secondaryComparator} are both
477   * serializable.
478   *
479   * <p><b>Java 8+ users:</b> Use {@code thisComparator.thenComparing(secondaryComparator)} instead.
480   * Depending on what {@code secondaryComparator} is, one of the other overloads of {@code
481   * thenComparing} may be even more useful.
482   */
483  public <U extends T> Ordering<U> compound(Comparator<? super U> secondaryComparator) {
484    return new CompoundOrdering<>(this, checkNotNull(secondaryComparator));
485  }
486
487  /**
488   * Returns an ordering which tries each given comparator in order until a non-zero result is
489   * found, returning that result, and returning zero only if all comparators return zero. The
490   * returned ordering is based on the state of the {@code comparators} iterable at the time it was
491   * provided to this method.
492   *
493   * <p>The returned ordering is equivalent to that produced using {@code
494   * Ordering.from(comp1).compound(comp2).compound(comp3) . . .}.
495   *
496   * <p>The returned object is serializable if each of the {@code comparators} is serializable.
497   *
498   * <p><b>Warning:</b> Supplying an argument with undefined iteration order, such as a {@link
499   * HashSet}, will produce non-deterministic results.
500   *
501   * <p><b>Java 8+ users:</b> Use a chain of calls to {@link Comparator#thenComparing(Comparator)},
502   * or {@code comparatorCollection.stream().reduce(Comparator::thenComparing).get()} (if the
503   * collection might be empty, also provide a default comparator as the {@code identity} parameter
504   * to {@code reduce}).
505   *
506   * @param comparators the comparators to try in order
507   */
508  public static <T extends @Nullable Object> Ordering<T> compound(
509      Iterable<? extends Comparator<? super T>> comparators) {
510    return new CompoundOrdering<>(comparators);
511  }
512
513  /**
514   * Returns a new ordering which sorts iterables by comparing corresponding elements pairwise until
515   * a nonzero result is found; imposes "dictionary order". If the end of one iterable is reached,
516   * but not the other, the shorter iterable is considered to be less than the longer one. For
517   * example, a lexicographical natural ordering over integers considers {@code [] < [1] < [1, 1] <
518   * [1, 2] < [2]}.
519   *
520   * <p>Note that {@code ordering.lexicographical().reverse()} is not equivalent to {@code
521   * ordering.reverse().lexicographical()} (consider how each would order {@code [1]} and {@code [1,
522   * 1]}).
523   *
524   * <p><b>Java 8+ users:</b> Use {@link Comparators#lexicographical(Comparator)} instead.
525   *
526   * @since 2.0
527   */
528  // type parameter <S> lets us avoid the extra <String> in statements like:
529  // Ordering<Iterable<String>> o =
530  //     Ordering.<String>natural().lexicographical();
531  public <S extends T> Ordering<Iterable<S>> lexicographical() {
532    /*
533     * Note that technically the returned ordering should be capable of
534     * handling not just {@code Iterable<S>} instances, but also any {@code
535     * Iterable<? extends S>}. However, the need for this comes up so rarely
536     * that it doesn't justify making everyone else deal with the very ugly
537     * wildcard.
538     */
539    return new LexicographicalOrdering<S>(this);
540  }
541
542  // Regular instance methods
543
544  @Override
545  public abstract int compare(@ParametricNullness T left, @ParametricNullness T right);
546
547  /**
548   * Returns the least of the specified values according to this ordering. If there are multiple
549   * least values, the first of those is returned. The iterator will be left exhausted: its {@code
550   * hasNext()} method will return {@code false}.
551   *
552   * <p><b>Java 8+ users:</b> Use {@code Streams.stream(iterator).min(thisComparator).get()} instead
553   * (but note that it does not guarantee which tied minimum element is returned).
554   *
555   * @param iterator the iterator whose minimum element is to be determined
556   * @throws NoSuchElementException if {@code iterator} is empty
557   * @throws ClassCastException if the parameters are not <i>mutually comparable</i> under this
558   *     ordering.
559   * @since 11.0
560   */
561  @ParametricNullness
562  public <E extends T> E min(Iterator<E> iterator) {
563    // let this throw NoSuchElementException as necessary
564    E minSoFar = iterator.next();
565
566    while (iterator.hasNext()) {
567      minSoFar = this.<E>min(minSoFar, iterator.next());
568    }
569
570    return minSoFar;
571  }
572
573  /**
574   * Returns the least of the specified values according to this ordering. If there are multiple
575   * least values, the first of those is returned.
576   *
577   * <p><b>Java 8+ users:</b> If {@code iterable} is a {@link Collection}, use {@code
578   * Collections.min(collection, thisComparator)} instead. Otherwise, use {@code
579   * Streams.stream(iterable).min(thisComparator).get()} instead. Note that these alternatives do
580   * not guarantee which tied minimum element is returned.
581   *
582   * @param iterable the iterable whose minimum element is to be determined
583   * @throws NoSuchElementException if {@code iterable} is empty
584   * @throws ClassCastException if the parameters are not <i>mutually comparable</i> under this
585   *     ordering.
586   */
587  @ParametricNullness
588  public <E extends T> E min(Iterable<E> iterable) {
589    return min(iterable.iterator());
590  }
591
592  /**
593   * Returns the lesser of the two values according to this ordering. If the values compare as 0,
594   * the first is returned.
595   *
596   * <p><b>Implementation note:</b> this method is invoked by the default implementations of the
597   * other {@code min} overloads, so overriding it will affect their behavior.
598   *
599   * <p><b>Note:</b> Consider using {@code Comparators.min(a, b, thisComparator)} instead. If {@code
600   * thisComparator} is {@link Ordering#natural}, then use {@code Comparators.min(a, b)}.
601   *
602   * @param a value to compare, returned if less than or equal to b.
603   * @param b value to compare.
604   * @throws ClassCastException if the parameters are not <i>mutually comparable</i> under this
605   *     ordering.
606   */
607  @ParametricNullness
608  public <E extends T> E min(@ParametricNullness E a, @ParametricNullness E b) {
609    return (compare(a, b) <= 0) ? a : b;
610  }
611
612  /**
613   * Returns the least of the specified values according to this ordering. If there are multiple
614   * least values, the first of those is returned.
615   *
616   * <p><b>Java 8+ users:</b> Use {@code Collections.min(Arrays.asList(a, b, c...), thisComparator)}
617   * instead (but note that it does not guarantee which tied minimum element is returned).
618   *
619   * @param a value to compare, returned if less than or equal to the rest.
620   * @param b value to compare
621   * @param c value to compare
622   * @param rest values to compare
623   * @throws ClassCastException if the parameters are not <i>mutually comparable</i> under this
624   *     ordering.
625   */
626  @ParametricNullness
627  public <E extends T> E min(
628      @ParametricNullness E a, @ParametricNullness E b, @ParametricNullness E c, E... rest) {
629    E minSoFar = min(min(a, b), c);
630
631    for (E r : rest) {
632      minSoFar = min(minSoFar, r);
633    }
634
635    return minSoFar;
636  }
637
638  /**
639   * Returns the greatest of the specified values according to this ordering. If there are multiple
640   * greatest values, the first of those is returned. The iterator will be left exhausted: its
641   * {@code hasNext()} method will return {@code false}.
642   *
643   * <p><b>Java 8+ users:</b> Use {@code Streams.stream(iterator).max(thisComparator).get()} instead
644   * (but note that it does not guarantee which tied maximum element is returned).
645   *
646   * @param iterator the iterator whose maximum element is to be determined
647   * @throws NoSuchElementException if {@code iterator} is empty
648   * @throws ClassCastException if the parameters are not <i>mutually comparable</i> under this
649   *     ordering.
650   * @since 11.0
651   */
652  @ParametricNullness
653  public <E extends T> E max(Iterator<E> iterator) {
654    // let this throw NoSuchElementException as necessary
655    E maxSoFar = iterator.next();
656
657    while (iterator.hasNext()) {
658      maxSoFar = this.<E>max(maxSoFar, iterator.next());
659    }
660
661    return maxSoFar;
662  }
663
664  /**
665   * Returns the greatest of the specified values according to this ordering. If there are multiple
666   * greatest values, the first of those is returned.
667   *
668   * <p><b>Java 8+ users:</b> If {@code iterable} is a {@link Collection}, use {@code
669   * Collections.max(collection, thisComparator)} instead. Otherwise, use {@code
670   * Streams.stream(iterable).max(thisComparator).get()} instead. Note that these alternatives do
671   * not guarantee which tied maximum element is returned.
672   *
673   * @param iterable the iterable whose maximum element is to be determined
674   * @throws NoSuchElementException if {@code iterable} is empty
675   * @throws ClassCastException if the parameters are not <i>mutually comparable</i> under this
676   *     ordering.
677   */
678  @ParametricNullness
679  public <E extends T> E max(Iterable<E> iterable) {
680    return max(iterable.iterator());
681  }
682
683  /**
684   * Returns the greater of the two values according to this ordering. If the values compare as 0,
685   * the first is returned.
686   *
687   * <p><b>Implementation note:</b> this method is invoked by the default implementations of the
688   * other {@code max} overloads, so overriding it will affect their behavior.
689   *
690   * <p><b>Note:</b> Consider using {@code Comparators.max(a, b, thisComparator)} instead. If {@code
691   * thisComparator} is {@link Ordering#natural}, then use {@code Comparators.max(a, b)}.
692   *
693   * @param a value to compare, returned if greater than or equal to b.
694   * @param b value to compare.
695   * @throws ClassCastException if the parameters are not <i>mutually comparable</i> under this
696   *     ordering.
697   */
698  @ParametricNullness
699  public <E extends T> E max(@ParametricNullness E a, @ParametricNullness E b) {
700    return (compare(a, b) >= 0) ? a : b;
701  }
702
703  /**
704   * Returns the greatest of the specified values according to this ordering. If there are multiple
705   * greatest values, the first of those is returned.
706   *
707   * <p><b>Java 8+ users:</b> Use {@code Collections.max(Arrays.asList(a, b, c...), thisComparator)}
708   * instead (but note that it does not guarantee which tied maximum element is returned).
709   *
710   * @param a value to compare, returned if greater than or equal to the rest.
711   * @param b value to compare
712   * @param c value to compare
713   * @param rest values to compare
714   * @throws ClassCastException if the parameters are not <i>mutually comparable</i> under this
715   *     ordering.
716   */
717  @ParametricNullness
718  public <E extends T> E max(
719      @ParametricNullness E a, @ParametricNullness E b, @ParametricNullness E c, E... rest) {
720    E maxSoFar = max(max(a, b), c);
721
722    for (E r : rest) {
723      maxSoFar = max(maxSoFar, r);
724    }
725
726    return maxSoFar;
727  }
728
729  /**
730   * Returns the {@code k} least elements of the given iterable according to this ordering, in order
731   * from least to greatest. If there are fewer than {@code k} elements present, all will be
732   * included.
733   *
734   * <p>The implementation does not necessarily use a <i>stable</i> sorting algorithm; when multiple
735   * elements are equivalent, it is undefined which will come first.
736   *
737   * <p><b>Java 8+ users:</b> Use {@code Streams.stream(iterable).collect(Comparators.least(k,
738   * thisComparator))} instead.
739   *
740   * @return an immutable {@code RandomAccess} list of the {@code k} least elements in ascending
741   *     order
742   * @throws IllegalArgumentException if {@code k} is negative
743   * @since 8.0
744   */
745  public <E extends T> List<E> leastOf(Iterable<E> iterable, int k) {
746    if (iterable instanceof Collection) {
747      Collection<E> collection = (Collection<E>) iterable;
748      if (collection.size() <= 2L * k) {
749        // In this case, just dumping the collection to an array and sorting is
750        // faster than using the implementation for Iterator, which is
751        // specialized for k much smaller than n.
752
753        @SuppressWarnings("unchecked") // c only contains E's and doesn't escape
754        E[] array = (E[]) collection.toArray();
755        sort(array, this);
756        if (array.length > k) {
757          array = Arrays.copyOf(array, k);
758        }
759        return unmodifiableList(asList(array));
760      }
761    }
762    return leastOf(iterable.iterator(), k);
763  }
764
765  /**
766   * Returns the {@code k} least elements from the given iterator according to this ordering, in
767   * order from least to greatest. If there are fewer than {@code k} elements present, all will be
768   * included.
769   *
770   * <p>The implementation does not necessarily use a <i>stable</i> sorting algorithm; when multiple
771   * elements are equivalent, it is undefined which will come first.
772   *
773   * <p><b>Java 8+ users:</b> Use {@code Streams.stream(iterator).collect(Comparators.least(k,
774   * thisComparator))} instead.
775   *
776   * @return an immutable {@code RandomAccess} list of the {@code k} least elements in ascending
777   *     order
778   * @throws IllegalArgumentException if {@code k} is negative
779   * @since 14.0
780   */
781  @SuppressWarnings("EmptyList") // ImmutableList doesn't support nullable element types
782  public <E extends T> List<E> leastOf(Iterator<E> iterator, int k) {
783    checkNotNull(iterator);
784    checkNonnegative(k, "k");
785
786    if (k == 0 || !iterator.hasNext()) {
787      return emptyList();
788    } else if (k >= Integer.MAX_VALUE / 2) {
789      // k is really large; just do a straightforward sorted-copy-and-sublist
790      ArrayList<E> list = newArrayList(iterator);
791      sort(list, this);
792      if (list.size() > k) {
793        list.subList(k, list.size()).clear();
794      }
795      list.trimToSize();
796      return unmodifiableList(list);
797    } else {
798      TopKSelector<E> selector = TopKSelector.least(k, this);
799      selector.offerAll(iterator);
800      return selector.topK();
801    }
802  }
803
804  /**
805   * Returns the {@code k} greatest elements of the given iterable according to this ordering, in
806   * order from greatest to least. If there are fewer than {@code k} elements present, all will be
807   * included.
808   *
809   * <p>The implementation does not necessarily use a <i>stable</i> sorting algorithm; when multiple
810   * elements are equivalent, it is undefined which will come first.
811   *
812   * <p><b>Java 8+ users:</b> Use {@code Streams.stream(iterable).collect(Comparators.greatest(k,
813   * thisComparator))} instead.
814   *
815   * @return an immutable {@code RandomAccess} list of the {@code k} greatest elements in
816   *     <i>descending order</i>
817   * @throws IllegalArgumentException if {@code k} is negative
818   * @since 8.0
819   */
820  public <E extends T> List<E> greatestOf(Iterable<E> iterable, int k) {
821    // TODO(kevinb): see if delegation is hurting performance noticeably
822    // TODO(kevinb): if we change this implementation, add full unit tests.
823    return this.<E>reverse().leastOf(iterable, k);
824  }
825
826  /**
827   * Returns the {@code k} greatest elements from the given iterator according to this ordering, in
828   * order from greatest to least. If there are fewer than {@code k} elements present, all will be
829   * included.
830   *
831   * <p>The implementation does not necessarily use a <i>stable</i> sorting algorithm; when multiple
832   * elements are equivalent, it is undefined which will come first.
833   *
834   * <p><b>Java 8+ users:</b> Use {@code Streams.stream(iterator).collect(Comparators.greatest(k,
835   * thisComparator))} instead.
836   *
837   * @return an immutable {@code RandomAccess} list of the {@code k} greatest elements in
838   *     <i>descending order</i>
839   * @throws IllegalArgumentException if {@code k} is negative
840   * @since 14.0
841   */
842  public <E extends T> List<E> greatestOf(Iterator<E> iterator, int k) {
843    return this.<E>reverse().leastOf(iterator, k);
844  }
845
846  /**
847   * Returns a <b>mutable</b> list containing {@code elements} sorted by this ordering; use this
848   * only when the resulting list may need further modification, or may contain {@code null}. The
849   * input is not modified. The returned list is serializable and has random access.
850   *
851   * <p>Unlike {@link Sets#newTreeSet(Iterable)}, this method does not discard elements that are
852   * duplicates according to the comparator. The sort performed is <i>stable</i>, meaning that such
853   * elements will appear in the returned list in the same order they appeared in {@code elements}.
854   *
855   * <p><b>Performance note:</b> According to our
856   * benchmarking
857   * on Open JDK 7, {@link #immutableSortedCopy} generally performs better (in both time and space)
858   * than this method, and this method in turn generally performs better than copying the list and
859   * calling {@link Collections#sort(List)}.
860   */
861  // TODO(kevinb): rerun benchmarks including new options
862  public <E extends T> List<E> sortedCopy(Iterable<E> elements) {
863    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked") // does not escape, and contains only E's
864    E[] array = (E[]) Iterables.toArray(elements);
865    sort(array, this);
866    return new ArrayList<>(asList(array));
867  }
868
869  /**
870   * Returns an <b>immutable</b> list containing {@code elements} sorted by this ordering. The input
871   * is not modified.
872   *
873   * <p>Unlike {@link Sets#newTreeSet(Iterable)}, this method does not discard elements that are
874   * duplicates according to the comparator. The sort performed is <i>stable</i>, meaning that such
875   * elements will appear in the returned list in the same order they appeared in {@code elements}.
876   *
877   * <p><b>Performance note:</b> According to our
878   * benchmarking
879   * on Open JDK 7, this method is the most efficient way to make a sorted copy of a collection.
880   *
881   * @throws NullPointerException if any element of {@code elements} is {@code null}
882   * @since 3.0
883   */
884  // TODO(kevinb): rerun benchmarks including new options
885  public <E extends @NonNull T> ImmutableList<E> immutableSortedCopy(Iterable<E> elements) {
886    return ImmutableList.sortedCopyOf(this, elements);
887  }
888
889  /**
890   * Returns {@code true} if each element in {@code iterable} after the first is greater than or
891   * equal to the element that preceded it, according to this ordering. Note that this is always
892   * true when the iterable has fewer than two elements.
893   *
894   * <p><b>Java 8+ users:</b> Use the equivalent {@link Comparators#isInOrder(Iterable, Comparator)}
895   * instead, since the rest of {@code Ordering} is mostly obsolete (as explained in the class
896   * documentation).
897   */
898  public boolean isOrdered(Iterable<? extends T> iterable) {
899    Iterator<? extends T> it = iterable.iterator();
900    if (it.hasNext()) {
901      T prev = it.next();
902      while (it.hasNext()) {
903        T next = it.next();
904        if (compare(prev, next) > 0) {
905          return false;
906        }
907        prev = next;
908      }
909    }
910    return true;
911  }
912
913  /**
914   * Returns {@code true} if each element in {@code iterable} after the first is <i>strictly</i>
915   * greater than the element that preceded it, according to this ordering. Note that this is always
916   * true when the iterable has fewer than two elements.
917   *
918   * <p><b>Java 8+ users:</b> Use the equivalent {@link Comparators#isInStrictOrder(Iterable,
919   * Comparator)} instead, since the rest of {@code Ordering} is mostly obsolete (as explained in
920   * the class documentation).
921   */
922  public boolean isStrictlyOrdered(Iterable<? extends T> iterable) {
923    Iterator<? extends T> it = iterable.iterator();
924    if (it.hasNext()) {
925      T prev = it.next();
926      while (it.hasNext()) {
927        T next = it.next();
928        if (compare(prev, next) >= 0) {
929          return false;
930        }
931        prev = next;
932      }
933    }
934    return true;
935  }
936
937  /**
938   * {@link Collections#binarySearch(List, Object, Comparator) Searches} {@code sortedList} for
939   * {@code key} using the binary search algorithm. The list must be sorted using this ordering.
940   *
941   * @param sortedList the list to be searched
942   * @param key the key to be searched for
943   * @deprecated Use {@link Collections#binarySearch(List, Object, Comparator)} directly.
944   */
945  @InlineMe(
946      replacement = "Collections.binarySearch(sortedList, key, this)",
947      imports = "java.util.Collections")
948  // We can't compatibly make this `final` now.
949  @InlineMeValidationDisabled(
950      "While binarySearch() is not final, the inlining is still safe as long as any overrides"
951          + " follow the contract.")
952  @Deprecated
953  public int binarySearch(
954      List<? extends T> sortedList, @ParametricNullness T key) {
955    return Collections.binarySearch(sortedList, key, this);
956  }
957
958  /**
959   * Exception thrown by a {@link Ordering#explicit(List)} or {@link Ordering#explicit(Object,
960   * Object[])} comparator when comparing a value outside the set of values it can compare.
961   * Extending {@link ClassCastException} may seem odd, but it is required.
962   */
963  static final class IncomparableValueException extends ClassCastException {
964    final Object value;
965
966    IncomparableValueException(Object value) {
967      super("Cannot compare value: " + value);
968      this.value = value;
969    }
970
971    @GwtIncompatible @J2ktIncompatible private static final long serialVersionUID = 0;
972  }
973
974  // Never make these public
975  static final int LEFT_IS_GREATER = 1;
976  static final int RIGHT_IS_GREATER = -1;
977}