What are the differences between '==' and equals in java?

In Java, understanding the differences between the == operator and the .equals() method is crucial for correctly comparing objects and primitives. Here's a detailed explanation of each, highlighting their distinct behaviors and use cases:

== Operator

• Type and Function: == is a binary operator used for comparison.
• Usage with Primitives: When used with primitive data types (like int, char, float, etc.), == compares the actual values of the primitives. If the values are the same, it returns true; otherwise, it returns false[1][2][3][4][5].
• Usage with Objects: In the context of objects, == checks for reference equality, meaning it checks whether both references point to the exact same object in memory. For example, if two reference variables point to the same object in memory, == will return true. If they refer to different objects, even if the objects contain identical data, == will return false[1][2][3][4][5].
• Non-Overridable: The == operator cannot be overridden, which means its behavior cannot be changed from its default operation of checking reference or value equality[3].

.equals() Method

• Type and Function: .equals() is a method defined in the Object class, the root class of all objects in Java. It is used for comparing objects for equality.
• Default Behavior: By default, the .equals() method in the Object class behaves just like the == operator, comparing objects based on reference equality. This means if the method is not overridden, .equals() will return true only if two references point to the exact same object[1][2][3][4].
• Overridable: Unlike ==, .equals() can be overridden. This allows developers to define what should be considered as equal for objects of a particular class. Typically, .equals() is overridden to compare objects based on their content or state rather than their refer...