TreeMap lowerEntry() method in Java with Examples

The lowerEntry() method of java.util.TreeMap class is used to return a key-value mapping associated with the greatest key strictly less than the given key, or null if there is no such key
Syntax:

public Map.Entry lowerEntry(K key)

Parameters: This method takes the key as a parameter for which the lower entry is to be found.
Return Value: This method returns an entry with the greatest key less than key, or null if there is no such key.
Exception: This method throws NullPointerException if the specified key is null and this map uses natural ordering, or its comparator does not permit null keys.
Below are the examples to illustrate the lowerEntry() method
Example 1:

Java

// Java program to demonstrate
// lowerEntry() method
// for <Integer, String>

import java.util.*;

public class GFG1 {
    public static void main(String[] argv)
        throws Exception
    {

        try {

            // creating object of TreeMap<Integer, String>
            TreeMap<Integer, String>
                treemap = new TreeMap<Integer, String>();

            // populating tree map
            treemap.put(1, "One");
            treemap.put(2, "Two");
            treemap.put(3, "Three");
            treemap.put(4, "Four");
            treemap.put(5, "Five");

            // printing the TreeMap
            System.out.println("TreeMap: " + treemap);

            // getting lowerEntry value for 3
            // using lowerEntry() method
            Map.Entry<Integer, String>
                value
                = treemap.lowerEntry(3);

            // printing the value
            System.out.println("The lowerEntry value "
                               + " for 3: " + value);
        }

        catch (NullPointerException e) {
            System.out.println("Exception thrown : " + e);
        }
    }
}

Output:

TreeMap: {1=One, 2=Two, 3=Three, 4=Four, 5=Five}
The lowerEntry value  for 3: 2=Two

Example 2: For NullPointerException

Java

// Java program to demonstrate
// lowerEntry() method
// for NullPointerException

import java.util.*;

public class GFG1 {
    public static void main(String[] argv)
        throws Exception
    {

        try {

            // creating object of TreeMap<Integer, String>
            TreeMap<Integer, String>
                treemap = new TreeMap<Integer, String>();

            // populating tree map
            treemap.put(1, "One");
            treemap.put(2, "Two");
            treemap.put(3, "Three");
            treemap.put(4, "Four");
            treemap.put(5, "Five");

            // printing the TreeMap
            System.out.println("TreeMap: " + treemap);

            // getting lowerEntry value for null
            // using lowerEntry() method
            System.out.println("Trying to get"
                               + " the lowerEntry value"
                               + " for value NULL");

            Map.Entry<Integer, String>
                value
                = treemap.lowerEntry(null);

            // printing the value
            System.out.println("Value is: " + value);
        }

        catch (NullPointerException e) {
            System.out.println("Exception thrown : " + e);
        }
    }
}

Output:

TreeMap: {1=One, 2=Two, 3=Three, 4=Four, 5=Five}
Trying to get the lowerEntry value for value NULL
Exception thrown : java.lang.NullPointerException