Scribd
Upload
3 views

equalsnHashcode

The document outlines the general principles for implementing the equals() method in Java, emphasizing reflexivity, symmetry, transitivity, consistency, and handling null values. It also explains the hashCode() method, which returns an integer value for an object and must be consistent with the equals() method, ensuring that equal objects produce the same hash code. The document provides the syntax for the hashCode() method and its contract regarding equality and hash code consistency.

Uploaded by

Suresh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
3 views

equalsnHashcode

The document outlines the general principles for implementing the equals() method in Java, emphasizing reflexivity, symmetry, transitivity, consistency, and handling null values. It also explains the hashCode() method, which returns an integer value for an object and must be consistent with the equals() method, ensuring that equal objects produce the same hash code. The document provides the syntax for the hashCode() method and its contract regarding equality and hash code consistency.

Uploaded by

Suresh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

General Contract of equals() method

There are some general principles defined by Java SE that must be


followed while implementing the equals() method in Java. The equals()
method must be:

o reflexive: An object x must be equal to itself, which means, for


object x, equals(x) should return true.
o symmetric: for two given objects x and y, x.equals(y) must return
true if and only if equals(x) returns true.
o transitive: for any objects x, y, and z, if x.equals(y) returns true
and y.equals(z) returns true, then x.equals(z) should return true.
o consistent: for any objects x and y, the value of x.equals(y) should
change, only if the property in equals() changes.
o For any object x, the equals(null) must return false.

Java hashcode()
o A hashcode is an integer value associated with every object in
Java, facilitating the hashing in hash tables.
o To get this hashcode value for an object, we can use the hashcode()
method in Java. It is the means hashcode() method that returns
the integer hashcode value of the given object.
o Since this method is defined in the Object class, hence it is inherited
by user-defined classes also.
o The hashcode() method returns the same hash value when called on
two objects, which are equal according to the equals() method. And
if the objects are unequal, it usually returns different hash values.

Syntax:

1. public int hashCode()

Returns:
It returns the hash code value for the given objects.

Contract for hashcode() method in Java


o If two objects are the same as per the equals(Object) method, then
if we call the hashCode() method on each of the two objects, it must
provide the same integer result.

You might also like