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Object Class

The Object class is the parent class for all classes in Java. It contains 11 non-static methods including toString(), equals(), and hashCode(). The toString() method returns a string representation of an object by default, but can be overridden to return a custom string. The equals() method compares object references by default but can be overridden to compare object state instead. The hashCode() method generates a unique integer for each object based on its reference, but should be overridden consistently with equals() if equals() is overridden.

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Preeti Jawalkar
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36 views

Object Class

The Object class is the parent class for all classes in Java. It contains 11 non-static methods including toString(), equals(), and hashCode(). The toString() method returns a string representation of an object by default, but can be overridden to return a custom string. The equals() method compares object references by default but can be overridden to compare object state instead. The hashCode() method generates a unique integer for each object based on its reference, but should be overridden consistently with equals() if equals() is overridden.

Uploaded by

Preeti Jawalkar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Object class

Object class :
● Object class is defined in java.lang package.
● Object class is a supermost parent class for all the classes in java.
● In object class there are 11 non static methods.
● One no argument constructor is there.
public String toString()

public boolean equals(Object o)

public int hashCode()

protected Object clone() throws CloneNotSupportedException

protected void finalize()

final public void wait() throws InterruptedException

final public void wait(long l) throws InterruptedException

final public void wait(long l , int i) throws InterruptedException

final public void notify() throws InterruptedException

final public void notifyAll() throws InterruptedException

final public void getClass()


toString()
● toString() method returns String.
● toString() implementation of Object class returns the reference of an
object in the String format.
Return Format : ClassName@HexaDecimal
EXAMPLE :
class Demo
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
Demo d = new Demo();
System.out.println(d) // d.toString() --- Demo@2f92e0f4
}
}
NOTE :
● Java doesn’t provide the real address of an object.
● Whenever programmer tries to print the reference variable toString() is
implicitly called.
PURPOSE OF OVERRIDING toString() :
We override toString() method to return state of an object instead of
returning reference of an object.
EXAMPLE :
class Circle
{
Int radius ;
Circle(int radius)
{
this.radius = radius ;
}
@Override
public String toString()
{
return “radius : ”+radius ;
}
public static void main(String[] args)
{
Circle c = new Circle(5);
System.out.println(c) // c.toString()---radius : 5
}
}
equals(Object) :
● The return type of equals(Object) method is boolean.
● To equals(Object) method we can pass reference of any object.
● The java.lang.Object class implementation of equals(Object) method
is used to compare the reference of two objects.
EXAMPLE 1 :
class Book
{
String bname;
Book(String bname)
{
this.bname = bname;
}
}
NOTE :
● If the reference is same == operator will return true else it returns
false.
● The equals(Object ) method is similar to == operator.
PURPOSE OF OVERRIDING equals(Object) :
We can override to equals(Object) method to compare the state of
an two Objects instead of comparing reference of two Objects.

NOTE :
● If equals(Object ) method is not overridden it compares the reference of two
objects similar to == operator.
● If equals(Object) method is overridden it compares the state of two objects,
in such case comparing the reference of two objects is possible only by ==
operator.
Design tip :
In equals method compare the state of an current(this) object with the passed
object by downcasting the passed object.
EXAMPLE :
class Book
{
String bname ;
Book(String bname)
{
this.bname = bname ;
}
@Override
public boolean equals(Object o)
{
Book b = (Book)o;
if(this.bname.equals(b.bname))
return true;
else
return false;
}
}
hashCode() :
● The return type of hashCode() method is int.
● The java.lang.Object implementation of hashCode() method is used to
give the unique integer number for every object created.
● The unique number generated based on the reference of an object.
PURPOSE OF OVERRIDING hashCode() :
If the equals(Object) method is overridden , then it is necessary to override
the hashCode() method.
Design tip :
hashCode() method should return an integer number based on the state of an
object.
EXAMPLE 1:
class Pen
{
double price ;
Pen(double price)
{
this.price = price ;
}
@Override
public int hashCode()
{
int hc = (int)price;
return hc ;
}
}
class Book
{
int bid ;
double price ;
Book(int bid , double price)
{
this.bid = bid ;
this.price = price;
}
@Override
public int hashCode()
{
int hc1 = bid ;
double hc2 = price ;
int hc = hc1+(int)hc2;
return hc ;
}
}
EXAMPLE 1 :
class Book
{
String bname;
Book(String bname)
{
this.bname = bname;
}
}
In the above two cases it is clear that,
● If the hashcode for two object is same, equals(Object) method will
return true.
● If the hashcode for two object is different, equals(Object) method will
return false.

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