Is Math.max(a,b) or (a>b)?a:b faster in Java?

Question

Which one is faster in Java and why?

1. Math.max(a,b)
2. (a>b)?a:b

(This was asked in an interview.)

Answer 1

Not the same. When you are writing (a > b) ? a : b you don't have an extra function call, so it will be faster. It's the equivalent of inlining in C++. But this will not make any difference in real life. Math.max(a,b) is more readable so I would use it.