Comparator naturalOrder() method in Java with examples

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The naturalOrder() method of Comparator Interface in Java returns a comparator that use to compare Comparable objects in natural order. The returned comparator by this method is serializable and throws NullPointerException when comparing null.

Syntax:

static <T extends Comparable<T>> 
    Comparator<T> naturalOrder()

Parameters: This method accepts nothing.

Return value: This method returns a comparator that imposes the natural ordering on Comparable objects.

Below programs illustrate naturalOrder() method:
Program 1:

// Java program to demonstrate
// Comparator.naturalOrder()  method
  
import java.util.Arrays;
import java.util.Comparator;
import java.util.List;
  
public class GFG {
    public static void main(String... args)
    {
  
        List<Integer> values
            = Arrays.asList(212, 324,
                            435, 566,
                            133, 100, 121);
  
        // naturalOrder is a static method
        values.sort(Comparator.naturalOrder());
  
        // print sorted number based on natural order
        System.out.println(values);
    }
}

The output printed on console of IDE is shown below.
Output:

Program 2:

// Java program to demonstrate
// Comparator.naturalOrder()  method
  
import java.util.Arrays;
import java.util.Comparator;
import java.util.List;
  
public class GFG {
    public static void main(String... args)
    {
  
        List<String> stringList
            = Arrays.asList("Aman", "Kajal",
                            "Joyita", "Das");
  
        System.out.println("Before sorting:");
        stringList.forEach(System.out::println);
  
        stringList.sort(Comparator.naturalOrder());
        System.out.println("\nAfter sorting:");
        stringList.forEach(System.out::println);
    }
}