Java: Check if two objects of the same class have identical values

Question

I want to know how to check if two objects of the same class have the same values ​​in each attribute.

For example:

public class Person {
String name;
String surname;
String country;
int age;    

public Person(String name, String surname, String country, int age) {
    this.name = name;
    this.surname = surname;
    this.country = country;
    this.age = age;
}

public boolean samePerson(Person person){
    //CODE
}


Person person1 = new Person("Abel", "Smith", "EEUU", 26);
Person person2 = new Person("Alexa", "Williams", "Canada", 30);
Person person3 = new Person("Abel", "Smith", "EEUU", 26);
Person person4 = new Person("Alexa", "Williams", "EEUU", 30)


person1.samePerson(person2) // return false
person1.samePerson(person3) // return true
person2.samePerson(person3) // return false
person2.samePerson(person4) // return false

The only thing I can think of is to compare the attributes one to one. Is there a simpler way?

Sorry for my english

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

The only thing I can think of is to compare the attributes one to one. Is there a simpler way?

Unfortunately not. You'll have to write code to do just that. And if you do, consider putting that code in equals and hashCode methods.

Answer 2

There is no simpler way. You have to implement your own way of doing this because it is a class you made yourself.

You are off to a good start. You can use your samePerson() method to provide this functionality, or, like @Thilo said, use the equals and hashCode methods.

It should go along the lines of:

public boolean samePerson(Person person){
   return this.name.equals(person.name) &&
          this.surname.equals(person.surname) &&
          this.country.equals(person.country) &&
          this.age == person.age;
}

With perhaps some sanity null checking and whatever else you require.