Groups | Search | Server Info | Keyboard shortcuts | Login | Register [http] [https] [nntp] [nntps]

Groups > comp.lang.java.programmer > #17763

Re: hashCode

Show key headers only | View raw

  To: Jan Burse
From: Lew <noone@lewscanon.com>

Jan Burse wrote:
> There is no reference to Comparable and the compareTo. If I am not

True.

> using HashMap or HashSet in my application, and still override
> equals, I do not need to implement hashCode(). I could for example

True.

> use TreeMap or TreeSet and implement the Comparable interface. There
> is a reference to equals() back from Comparable though.

This requires a detailed knowledge of the implementation of the particular
'Map' or 'Set'. If its searches do not employ hash codes, then you do not need
to implement 'hashCode()' for value-equal types.

In the general case one prefers to underspecify the mechanics, that is, allow a 
client of the type to deploy either 'equals()'-based or hash-based algorithms, 
by ensuring the methods are consistent with each other per Joshua Bloch and 
other notables.

> http://docs.oracle.com/javase/6/docs/api/java/lang/Comparable.html

Even for cases where one predicts the use will not require one or another of 
the consistency practices, it is harmless to enforce them.

There are four methods a type might use to represent equality or identity and 
deviations therefrom: 'equals()' of course, and 'hashCode()', 'compareTo()', 
and 'toString()'. There may be external 'Comparator's on that type.

All these methods on or of a type, where they exist, should be consistent, 
absent an overwhelming and sound reason not to be.

The default case from 'Object' is that 'equals()' implements ==, 'hashCode()' 
returns something sort of like an address of the instance which is nearly 
always unique within a given JVM run, 'toString()' returns a decorated string 
version of the hash code, and 'compareTo()' doesn't exist.

To express value equality in a type, one must override 'equals()'. The rest are 
optional in Arne's strictest and most correct use of that notion. It is also 
harmless to keep the rest consistent and nearly always (as in you might 
encounter one instance per career otherwise) useful.

One generally chooses 'TreeMap' for its sorting capability, not its reliance on 
'equals()' vs. 'hashCode()' to achieve that. (Assuming it has such a reliance.) 
Unless there's a compelling argument to rely on 'TreeMap''s undocumented 
non-use of hash codes, why do so?

Yes, I am aware that the 'TreeMap' documentation makes it clear that
'hashCode()' shouldn't be involved. Without promising it isn't. But a
'Comparator' might use hash codes under the hood in a naive attempt to
shortcut a comparison, not knowing that the base type assumes no one would do 
such a thing. Or some later client might need only equality and not order, and 
throw the base type into a 'HashMap' with surprising results.

Should you design anything that violates the consistency rule, then please do 
both Javadoc and code-comment it properly.

--
Lew
Honi soit qui mal y pense.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cf/Friz.jpg

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Dada-1
 * Origin: Prism bbs (1:261/38)
--- Synchronet 3.16a-Win32 NewsLink 1.98
Time Warp of the Future BBS - telnet://time.synchro.net:24

Back to comp.lang.java.programmer | Previous | Next — Previous in thread | Next in thread | Find similar | Unroll thread

Thread

hashCode "bob smith" <bob.smith@1:261/38.remove-t9h-this> - 2012-08-10 18:39 +0000
  Re: hashCode "Arne Vajhøj" <arne.vajhøj@1:261/38.remove-t9h-this> - 2012-08-10 18:39 +0000
    Re: hashCode "markspace" <markspace@1:261/38.remove-t9h-this> - 2012-08-10 18:39 +0000
      Re: hashCode "Arne Vajhøj" <arne.vajhøj@1:261/38.remove-t9h-this> - 2012-08-10 18:39 +0000
        Re: hashCode "rossum" <rossum@1:261/38.remove-pjg-this> - 2012-08-11 18:17 +0000
  Re: hashCode "Eric Sosman" <eric.sosman@1:261/38.remove-t9h-this> - 2012-08-10 18:39 +0000
    Re: hashCode "bob smith" <bob.smith@1:261/38.remove-pjg-this> - 2012-08-11 18:17 +0000
      Re: hashCode "Lew" <lew@1:261/38.remove-pjg-this> - 2012-08-11 18:17 +0000
        Re: hashCode "Arne Vajhøj" <arne.vajhøj@1:261/38.remove-pjg-this> - 2012-08-11 18:17 +0000
          Re: hashCode "Lew" <lew@1:261/38.remove-m2z-this> - 2012-08-12 18:58 +0000
            Re: hashCode "Arne Vajhøj" <������
høj@1:261/38.remove-m2z-this> - 2012-08-12 18:58 +0000
              Re: hashCode "Arne Vajhøj" <������
høj@1:261/38.remove-m2z-this> - 2012-08-12 18:58 +0000
                Re: hashCode "Eric Sosman" <eric.sosman@1:261/38.remove-m2z-this> - 2012-08-12 18:58 +0000
                Re: hashCode "Arne Vajhøj" <������
høj@1:261/38.remove-m2z-this> - 2012-08-12 18:58 +0000
      Re: hashCode "Eric Sosman" <eric.sosman@1:261/38.remove-pjg-this> - 2012-08-11 18:17 +0000
        Re: hashCode "Lew" <lew@1:261/38.remove-m2z-this> - 2012-08-12 18:58 +0000
          Re: hashCode "Arne Vajhøj" <������
høj@1:261/38.remove-m2z-this> - 2012-08-12 18:58 +0000
      Re: hashCode "Arne Vajhøj" <arne.vajhøj@1:261/38.remove-pjg-this> - 2012-08-11 18:17 +0000
        Re: hashCode "Robert Klemme" <robert.klemme@1:261/38.remove-m2z-this> - 2012-08-12 18:58 +0000
          Re: hashCode "Arne Vajhøj" <arne.vajhøj@1:261/38.remove-nlb-this> - 2012-08-13 18:36 +0000
            Re: hashCode "Robert Klemme" <robert.klemme@1:261/38.remove-nlb-this> - 2012-08-13 18:36 +0000
              Re: hashCode "Arne Vajhøj" <arne.vajhøj@1:261/38.remove-fzq-this> - 2012-08-20 18:58 +0000
              Re: hashCode "Arne Vajhøj" <arne.vajhøj@1:261/38.remove-fzq-this> - 2012-08-20 18:58 +0000
      Re: hashCode "Patricia Shanahan" <patricia.shanahan@1:261/38.remove-m2z-this> - 2012-08-12 18:58 +0000
      Re: hashCode "Joshua Cranmer" <joshua.cranmer@1:261/38.remove-m2z-this> - 2012-08-12 18:58 +0000
        Re: hashCode "Patricia Shanahan" <patricia.shanahan@1:261/38.remove-m2z-this> - 2012-08-12 18:58 +0000
          Re: hashCode "Eric Sosman" <eric.sosman@1:261/38.remove-6fd-this> - 2012-08-12 20:00 +0000
            Re: hashCode "Patricia Shanahan" <patricia.shanahan@1:261/38.remove-6fd-this> - 2012-08-12 20:00 +0000
          Re: hashCode "Arne Vajhøj" <������
høj@1:261/38.remove-nlb-this> - 2012-08-13 18:36 +0000
        Re: hashCode "Jan Burse" <jan.burse@1:261/38.remove-m2z-this> - 2012-08-12 18:58 +0000
  Re: hashCode "Roedy Green" <roedy.green@1:261/38.remove-pjg-this> - 2012-08-11 18:17 +0000
    Re: hashCode "Lew" <lew@1:261/38.remove-pjg-this> - 2012-08-11 18:17 +0000
      Re: hashCode "Roedy Green" <roedy.green@1:261/38.remove-pjg-this> - 2012-08-11 18:17 +0000
        Re: hashCode "Joerg Meier" <joerg.meier@1:261/38.remove-pjg-this> - 2012-08-11 18:17 +0000
          Re: hashCode "Mike Winter" <mike.winter@1:261/38.remove-ya-this> - 2012-08-11 19:19 +0000
        Re: hashCode "Peter Duniho" <peter.duniho@1:261/38.remove-pjg-this> - 2012-08-11 18:17 +0000
        Re: hashCode "Jan Burse" <jan.burse@1:261/38.remove-pjg-this> - 2012-08-11 18:17 +0000
        Re: hashCode "Arne Vajhøj" <arne.vajhøj@1:261/38.remove-m2z-this> - 2012-08-12 18:58 +0000
      Re: hashCode "rossum" <rossum@1:261/38.remove-ya-this> - 2012-08-11 19:19 +0000
    Re: hashCode "Arne Vajhøj" <arne.vajhøj@1:261/38.remove-pjg-this> - 2012-08-11 18:17 +0000
      Re: hashCode "Eric Sosman" <eric.sosman@1:261/38.remove-pjg-this> - 2012-08-11 18:17 +0000
        Re: hashCode "Arne Vajhøj" <arne.vajhøj@1:261/38.remove-pjg-this> - 2012-08-11 18:17 +0000
  Re: hashCode "Jan Burse" <jan.burse@1:261/38.remove-pjg-this> - 2012-08-11 18:17 +0000
    Re: hashCode "Jan Burse" <jan.burse@1:261/38.remove-pjg-this> - 2012-08-11 18:17 +0000
    Re: hashCode "Lew" <lew@1:261/38.remove-m2z-this> - 2012-08-12 18:58 +0000
      Re: hashCode "Lew" <lew@1:261/38.remove-m2z-this> - 2012-08-12 18:58 +0000
      Re: hashCode "Arne Vajhøj" <������
høj@1:261/38.remove-m2z-this> - 2012-08-12 18:58 +0000
        Re: hashCode "Lew" <lew@1:261/38.remove-m2z-this> - 2012-08-12 18:58 +0000
    Re: hashCode "Jan Burse" <jan.burse@1:261/38.remove-m2z-this> - 2012-08-12 18:58 +0000
      Re: hashCode "Jan Burse" <jan.burse@1:261/38.remove-m2z-this> - 2012-08-12 18:58 +0000
      Re: hashCode "Lew" <lew@1:261/38.remove-6fd-this> - 2012-08-12 20:00 +0000
        Re: hashCode "Arne Vajhøj" <������
høj@1:261/38.remove-nlb-this> - 2012-08-13 18:36 +0000

csiph-web