How to fix java.lang.ClassCastException while using the TreeMap in Java?

The java.lang.ClassCastException is one of the unchecked exception in Java. It can occur in our program when we tried to convert an object of one class type into an object of another class type.

When we use custom class objects as keys in the TreeMap and neither implements the comparable interface nor comparator interface, then the java.lang.ClassCastException arises.

So there are two ways to fix java.lang.ClassCastException while using the TreeMap in Java:

• Using Comparable
• Using Comparator

Method 1: Using Comparable

We can fix java.lang.ClassCastException by the objects used as keys of the TreeMap implement the Comparable interface.

Pseudo Code:

// Custom class Student implements comparable interface

class Student implements Comparable<Student> {

  String name;
  Integer marks;

  public Student(String name, Integer marks) {
    this.name = name;
    this.marks = marks;
  }

  // Override toString method
  public String toString() {
    return this.name + " : " + this.marks;
  }

  public int getMarks() {
    return this.marks;
  }

  // Override compareTo method that sort treemap in the ascending order of the marks
  public int compareTo(Student stu) {
    return this.getMarks() - stu.getMarks();
  }
}

Implementation:

The Treemap : {Chetan : 300=3, Akshay : 500=1, Bhanu : 600=2}

Method 2: Using Comparator

We can fix java.lang.ClassCastException by provide a custom comparator to the constructor at the creation time of the TreeMap.

Pseudo Code: 

// Custom comparator

class MyComparator implements Comparator<Student> {
  // Compare method that sort TreeMap in the ascending order of the marks
  public int compare(Student stu1, Student stu2) {
    return stu1.getMarks() - stu2.getMarks();
  }
}

Implementation: 

The Treemap : {Chetan : 300=3, Akshay : 500=1, Bhanu : 600=2}