How to Create a Custom Priority Queue in Java: Building One with a Binary Max Heap

If you’ve been dabbling with algorithms for a while, you’ve likely heard of the mighty Priority Queue. It’s an essential tool in many situations, whether you’re dealing with algorithms like Dijkstra’s or designing a task scheduler. But have you ever thought of creating your own custom priority queue in Java, complete with your own binary max heap?

In this post, I’m going to walk you through exactly how to do that. We’ll build a custom Priority Queue from scratch in Java, explore the workings of a Binary Max Heap, and share some code snippets along the way.

By the end, you’ll have a rock-solid understanding of how priority queues work under the hood. Let’s get right into it!

What is a Priority Queue?

Before we dive headfirst into the code, let’s clarify what a priority queue is. Think of it like a regular queue (you know, first-in, first-out), but with a twist. In a priority queue, each element has a priority associated with it. Instead of serving items in the order they arrived, the queue gives priority to the highest-priority element.

In a max priority queue, the element with the highest priority (or value) comes out first. On the flip side, there’s a min priority queue, where the…