HashSet in Java's Collection Framework

A HashSet in Java is a class that implements the Set interface. It is part of the Java Collections
Framework. HashSet stores elements in a hash table, making it a good choice for scenarios where
you need to quickly check if an element exists within a collection. It does not guarantee any specific
order for the elements.

Key Characteristics of HashSet:

1. Unordered: Elements are not stored in any particular order (insertion order is not
preserved). The order might change over time.

2. Uniqueness: HashSet does not allow duplicate elements. If you try to add a duplicate,
the add() method will return false, and the set will remain unchanged. It uses
the equals() and hashCode() methods of the elements to determine uniqueness.

3. Null Elements: HashSet allows a single null element.

4. Performance: HashSet offers excellent performance for basic operations like adding,
removing, and checking for the existence of elements (contains). These operations typically
take constant time, O(1), on average, assuming a good hash function. However, in the worst-
case scenario (e.g., all elements have the same hash code), these operations can degrade to
O(n), where n is the number of elements in the set.

5. Implementation: HashSet is backed by a HashMap. The keys of the map are the elements of
the set, and the values are dummy Object instances. This makes the set's uniqueness
guarantee come from the HashMap's key uniqueness guarantee.

6. Not Synchronized: HashSet is not synchronized. If multiple threads access and modify
a HashSet concurrently, you must synchronize access externally, for example, by
using Collections.synchronizedSet(new HashSet(...)). Alternatively, you can
use ConcurrentHashMap and adapt it to set-like behavior.

How it Works (Internally):

1. Hashing: When you add an element to a HashSet, the hashCode() method of the element is
called. This method returns an integer value representing the hash code of the object.

2. Bucket Assignment: The hash code is used to determine the bucket (index) in the internal
hash table where the element will be stored.

3. Collision Handling: If multiple elements have the same hash code (a collision), they are
typically stored in the same bucket using a linked list or a tree (starting with Java 8).

4. equals() Method: When you check if an element is already in

the HashSet (contains() method), the hashCode() method is used to find the correct bucket.
Then, the equals() method is used to compare the element in the bucket to the element you
are checking for.

Example:

import java.util.HashSet;
import java.util.Set;

public class HashSetExample {

public static void main(String[] args) {

// Create a HashSet

Set<String> names = new HashSet<>();

// Add elements to the HashSet

names.add("Alice");

names.add("Bob");

names.add("Charlie");

names.add("Alice"); // Duplicate, won't be added

names.add(null);

// Check if an element exists

System.out.println("Contains Alice: " + names.contains("Alice")); // Output: true

System.out.println("Contains David: " + names.contains("David")); // Output: false

// Get the size of the HashSet

System.out.println("Size: " + names.size()); // Output: 4 (Alice, Bob, Charlie, null)

// Remove an element

names.remove("Bob");

// Iterate through the HashSet

System.out.println("Elements in HashSet:");

for (String name : names) {

System.out.println(name); // Order is not guaranteed

}
 // Check if the HashSet is empty

System.out.println("Is empty: " + names.isEmpty()); // Output: false

// Clear the HashSet

names.clear();

System.out.println("Is empty after clear: " + names.isEmpty()); // Output: true

content_copydownload

Use code with caution.Java

Common Methods:

 add(element): Adds an element to the HashSet. Returns true if the element was
added, false if it was already present.

 remove(element): Removes an element from the HashSet. Returns true if the element was
removed, false if it was not found.

 contains(element): Checks if an element is present in the HashSet. Returns true if the

element is present, false otherwise.

 size(): Returns the number of elements in the HashSet.

 isEmpty(): Returns true if the HashSet is empty, false otherwise.

 clear(): Removes all elements from the HashSet.

 iterator(): Returns an iterator over the elements in the HashSet.

When to Use HashSet:

 Checking for Membership Quickly: When you need to quickly check if an element exists in a
collection.

 Removing Duplicates: When you need to ensure that a collection contains only unique
elements.

 Order is Not Important: When the order of elements is not a concern.

Comparison to Other Set Implementations:

 HashSet vs. TreeSet: TreeSet stores elements in a sorted order (using a TreeMap),
while HashSet does not guarantee any order. TreeSet is slower than HashSet for basic
operations.

 HashSet vs. LinkedHashSet: LinkedHashSet preserves the insertion order of elements,

while HashSet does not. LinkedHashSet is slightly slower than HashSet.

Important Notes:
  The performance of HashSet heavily depends on the quality of the hashCode() method of
the elements. A poorly designed hashCode() method can lead to many collisions, degrading
performance.

 It's crucial to override both hashCode() and equals() methods consistently when using
custom objects in a HashSet. If two objects are equal according to equals(), they must have
the same hash code. If two objects have the same hash code, they must be compared
using equals() to check if they are truly equal.

 HashSet is not thread-safe. Use Collections.synchronizedSet() or ConcurrentHashMap for

concurrent access.

In summary, HashSet is a versatile and efficient class in Java's Collection Framework for storing
unique elements when order is not important. It's widely used due to its speed and ease of use.
Remember to consider the performance implications of hashCode() and equals() when using custom
objects.

12.8s

edit

more_vert

edit

more_vert

Accessing a collection via iterator in collection framework in java

edit

more_vert

Okay, let's discuss accessing a collection via an iterator in Java's Collection Framework.

Iterators: The Key to Traversing Collections

An Iterator is an interface in Java that provides a standard way to access the elements of a collection
(like a List, Set, or Map) one at a time. It acts as a pointer that moves through the collection, allowing
you to:

1. Access elements sequentially: Get the next element in the collection.

2. Remove elements (optionally): Delete the element currently pointed to by the iterator.

Why Use Iterators?

 Abstraction: Iterators provide a generic way to traverse collections without exposing the
underlying implementation details (e.g., how the elements are stored).

 Standard Interface: The Iterator interface ensures a consistent way to iterate, regardless of
the specific collection type.
  Safe Removal: Using an iterator to remove elements while iterating
avoids ConcurrentModificationException, which can occur if you directly modify a collection
during iteration.

How to Get an Iterator

Every collection in the Java Collections Framework implements the Iterable interface, which defines
the iterator() method. You can call this method to get an Iterator for the collection:

import java.util.ArrayList;

import java.util.Iterator;

import java.util.List;

public class IteratorExample {

public static void main(String[] args) {

List<String> names = new ArrayList<>();

names.add("Alice");

names.add("Bob");

names.add("Charlie");

// Get an iterator for the list

Iterator<String> iterator = names.iterator();

// ... Now you can use the iterator to access the elements

content_copydownload

Use code with caution.Java

Iterator Methods

The Iterator interface defines the following key methods:

 hasNext(): Returns true if there are more elements to iterate over, false otherwise.

 next(): Returns the next element in the collection. Throws a NoSuchElementException if

there are no more elements.

 remove(): Removes the element that was last returned by next(). This method is optional
(not all iterators support it). Throws an UnsupportedOperationException if the iterator does
 not support the remove operation, or IllegalStateException if next() has not been called yet
or remove() has already been called after the last next().

Iterating through a Collection

Here's how to iterate through a collection using an iterator:

import java.util.ArrayList;

import java.util.Iterator;

import java.util.List;

public class IteratorExample {

public static void main(String[] args) {

List<String> names = new ArrayList<>();

names.add("Alice");

names.add("Bob");

names.add("Charlie");

// Get an iterator for the list

Iterator<String> iterator = names.iterator();

// Iterate through the list using the iterator

while (iterator.hasNext()) {

String name = iterator.next();

System.out.println(name);

content_copydownload

Use code with caution.Java

Removing Elements Safely

To remove elements from a collection while iterating, you must use the remove() method of the
iterator:

import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Iterator;

import java.util.List;

public class IteratorExample {

public static void main(String[] args) {

List<String> names = new ArrayList<>();

names.add("Alice");

names.add("Bob");

names.add("Charlie");

names.add("David");

Iterator<String> iterator = names.iterator();

while (iterator.hasNext()) {

String name = iterator.next();

if (name.startsWith("A")) {

iterator.remove(); // Remove names starting with "A"

System.out.println("List after removing names starting with A: " + names); // Output: [Bob,
Charlie, David]

content_copydownload

Use code with caution.Java

ListIterator

The ListIterator interface extends Iterator and is specifically designed for lists (classes that implement
the List interface, such as ArrayList and LinkedList). ListIterator provides the following additional
functionalities:
  Bidirectional Traversal: It allows you to move both forward and backward through the list
(hasNext(), next(), hasPrevious(), previous()).

 Element Index: You can get the index of the next or previous element
(nextIndex(), previousIndex()).

 Element Modification: You can modify the list by adding, setting, or removing elements
(add(element), set(element), remove()).

import java.util.ArrayList;

import java.util.List;

import java.util.ListIterator;

public class ListIteratorExample {

public static void main(String[] args) {

List<String> names = new ArrayList<>();

names.add("Alice");

names.add("Bob");

names.add("Charlie");

ListIterator<String> listIterator = names.listIterator();

// Iterate forward and print with index

while (listIterator.hasNext()) {

int index = listIterator.nextIndex();

String name = listIterator.next();

System.out.println("Index: " + index + ", Name: " + name);

// Iterate backward and set elements to uppercase

while (listIterator.hasPrevious()) {

String name = listIterator.previous();

listIterator.set(name.toUpperCase());

}
 System.out.println("List after setting to uppercase: " + names); // Output: [ALICE, BOB, CHARLIE]

content_copydownload

Use code with caution.Java

Enhanced For Loop (For-Each Loop)

Java provides an enhanced for loop (also known as the "for-each" loop), which simplifies iteration
over collections. Under the hood, it uses an iterator:

import java.util.ArrayList;

import java.util.List;

public class ForEachExample {

public static void main(String[] args) {

List<String> names = new ArrayList<>();

names.add("Alice");

names.add("Bob");

names.add("Charlie");

// Iterate using the enhanced for loop

for (String name : names) {

System.out.println(name);

content_copydownload

Use code with caution.Java

Important Notes about remove()

 You can call remove() only once after calling next(). If you call remove() twice in a row
without calling next(), you will get an IllegalStateException.
  The remove() operation is optional. Some iterators might not support it. Check the
documentation for the specific collection and iterator you are using.

 Avoid modifying the collection directly (e.g., using list.remove()) while iterating with an
iterator unless you're absolutely sure what you're doing. It can lead to unexpected behavior
and ConcurrentModificationException. Always prefer the iterator's remove() method for safe
removal during iteration.

ConcurrentModificationException

This exception occurs when a collection is modified while an iterator is in use, except when the
modification is done through the iterator's own remove() or add() methods. The exception is usually
thrown by the next() method of the iterator. This exception highlights the importance of using
iterators correctly when modifying collections.
Summary

Iterators are a powerful and essential mechanism in Java's Collection Framework for accessing and
modifying elements in collections. They provide a standard, abstracted, and safe way to traverse
collections, ensuring proper behavior and avoiding common errors. Use them whenever you need to
iterate and potentially modify a collection. For lists, consider the extended functionalities
of ListIterator. For simple iteration without modification, the enhanced for loop is often the most
convenient option.

14.6s

edit

more_vert

working with Maps in collection framework in java

edit

more_vert

Working with Maps in Java's Collection Framework

Maps are a fundamental part of Java's Collection Framework. Unlike lists and sets, which store
collections of individual elements, maps store key-value pairs. This allows you to associate data with
a specific identifier, providing a highly efficient way to retrieve values based on their corresponding
keys.

Key Concepts:

 Key: The identifier used to retrieve a specific value. Keys must be unique within a map. You
can only have one key in the map.

 Value: The data associated with a particular key. Values can be of any type (including null),
and multiple keys can map to the same value.

Map Interface

The Map interface defines the core contract for map implementations in Java. It provides methods
for putting entries, retrieving them, checking for the presence of keys and values, and other essential
operations.
Common Map Implementations:

1. HashMap:

o Implementation: Based on a hash table.

o Ordering: Doesn't guarantee any specific order for the keys or values.

o Performance: Provides excellent performance for most operations (get, put, remove)
on average, O(1), if the hash function is well-distributed. Worst-case performance
can degrade to O(n).

o Null Keys/Values: Allows one null key and multiple null values.

o Synchronization: Not synchronized. If multiple threads access and modify

a HashMap concurrently, you need to synchronize access externally. Consider
using ConcurrentHashMap for concurrent environments.

2. TreeMap:

o Implementation: Based on a red-black tree (a type of self-balancing binary search

tree).

o Ordering: Stores keys in a sorted order (ascending order by default), based on the
natural ordering of the keys or a custom Comparator.

o Performance: Provides logarithmic time complexity (O(log n)) for most operations
(get, put, remove).

o Null Keys/Values: Does not allow null keys (throws NullPointerException).

Allows null values.

o Synchronization: Not synchronized.

3. LinkedHashMap:

o Implementation: Based on a hash table and a linked list.

o Ordering: Preserves the insertion order of keys. You can also configure it to maintain
access order (least recently accessed elements are moved to the end of the map).

o Performance: Operations (get, put, remove) take constant time on average, O(1)
similar to HashMap.

o Null Keys/Values: Allows one null key and multiple null values.

o Synchronization: Not synchronized.

4. Hashtable: (Legacy class)

o Similar to HashMap but is synchronized (thread-safe).

o Does not allow null keys or values.

o Generally, ConcurrentHashMap is preferred over Hashtable for concurrent

environments due to its finer-grained locking mechanism.

5. ConcurrentHashMap:
 o A thread-safe version of HashMap designed for concurrent access.

o Uses finer-grained locking mechanisms to allow multiple threads to read and write to
different parts of the map concurrently.

o Does not permit null keys or null values (in Java 8 and later).

o Provides better performance in concurrent scenarios compared to synchronizing a

regular HashMap.

Basic Map Operations:

import java.util.HashMap;

import java.util.Map;

public class MapExample {

public static void main(String[] args) {

// Create a HashMap

Map<String, Integer> ageMap = new HashMap<>();

// Put key-value pairs into the map

ageMap.put("Alice", 30);

ageMap.put("Bob", 25);

ageMap.put("Charlie", 35);

ageMap.put("David", 25);

ageMap.put("Eve", null); // Example of a null value

// Get the value associated with a key

Integer aliceAge = ageMap.get("Alice"); // Returns 30

System.out.println("Alice's age: " + aliceAge);

// Check if a key exists

boolean containsAlice = ageMap.containsKey("Alice"); // Returns true

System.out.println("Contains Alice: " + containsAlice);

// Check if a value exists

 boolean containsAge25 = ageMap.containsValue(25); // Returns true

System.out.println("Contains age 25: " + containsAge25);

// Get the number of key-value pairs in the map

int size = ageMap.size(); // Returns 5

System.out.println("Size: " + size);

// Remove a key-value pair

ageMap.remove("Bob");

// Check if the map is empty

boolean isEmpty = ageMap.isEmpty(); // Returns false

System.out.println("Is empty: " + isEmpty);

// Clear the map

//ageMap.clear(); // Removes all entries

// Iterate through the map (see next section)

content_copydownload

Use code with caution.Java

Iterating Through a Map

There are several ways to iterate through a map:

1. Iterating over Keys:

2. for (String key : ageMap.keySet()) {

3. Integer value = ageMap.get(key);

4. System.out.println("Key: " + key + ", Value: " + value);

content_copydownload

Use code with caution.Java

 5. Iterating over Values:

6. for (Integer value : ageMap.values()) {

7. System.out.println("Value: " + value);

content_copydownload

Use code with caution.Java

8. Iterating over Entries (Key-Value Pairs):

9. for (Map.Entry<String, Integer> entry : ageMap.entrySet()) {

10. String key = entry.getKey();

11. Integer value = entry.getValue();

12. System.out.println("Key: " + key + ", Value: " + value);

content_copydownload

Use code with caution.Java

Iterating over entrySet() is generally the most efficient way to iterate through a map when you need
both the key and the value because it retrieves both in one go.

13. Using forEach (Java 8 and later):

ageMap.forEach((key, value) -> System.out.println("Key: " + key + ", Value: " + value));

content_copydownload

Use code with caution.Java

This offers a concise and functional approach to iterating over map entries.

Choosing the Right Map Implementation:

 HashMap: Use when you need fast lookups and don't care about the order of the keys. This
is the most commonly used map.

 TreeMap: Use when you need to iterate through the keys in a sorted order or need to
perform operations that rely on the sorted nature of the keys (e.g., finding the smallest or
largest key).

 LinkedHashMap: Use when you need to preserve the insertion order of the keys. Useful for
maintaining a cache where you want to keep track of the order in which items were added or
accessed.

 ConcurrentHashMap: Use when you need a thread-safe map for concurrent environments. It
handles concurrent reads and writes efficiently.

Important Considerations:
  Key Uniqueness: Ensure that your keys are unique within the map. If you try to put a key
that already exists, the existing value will be overwritten.

 hashCode() and equals() for Keys: When using custom objects as keys in
a HashMap or LinkedHashMap, it's essential to override
the hashCode() and equals() methods correctly. If two objects are equal according
to equals(), they must have the same hash code. Inconsistency can lead to incorrect lookups.

 Mutable Keys: Avoid using mutable objects as keys in a map. If the key object is modified
after it's been added to the map, its hash code might change, making it impossible to
retrieve the associated value using the modified key. If you must use mutable keys, make
sure the key's hashCode() and equals() methods are based on immutable properties of the
object.

 Null Keys and Values: Be aware of the restrictions on null keys and values for
specific Map implementations.

 Synchronization: If your map will be accessed by multiple threads concurrently, ensure

proper synchronization to prevent data corruption. Use ConcurrentHashMap or synchronize
access to a regular map.

Example Using Custom Key Objects:

import java.util.HashMap;

import java.util.Map;

import java.util.Objects;

class Point {

private int x;

private int y;

public Point(int x, int y) {

this.x = x;

this.y = y;

public int getX() {

return x;

public int getY() {

 return y;

@Override

public boolean equals(Object o) {

if (this == o) return true;

if (o == null || getClass() != o.getClass()) return false;

Point point = (Point) o;

return x == point.x && y == point.y;

@Override

public int hashCode() {

return Objects.hash(x, y);

@Override

public String toString() {

return "Point{" +

"x=" + x +

", y=" + y +

'}';

public class CustomKeyMapExample {

public static void main(String[] args) {

Map<Point, String> pointMap = new HashMap<>();

Point p1 = new Point(1, 2);

 Point p2 = new Point(3, 4);

Point p3 = new Point(1, 2); // Same as p1

pointMap.put(p1, "Point 1");

pointMap.put(p2, "Point 2");

System.out.println("Value for p1: " + pointMap.get(p1)); // Output: Point 1

System.out.println("Value for p3: " + pointMap.get(p3)); // Output: Point 1 (because

p1.equals(p3))

content_copydownload

Use code with caution.Java

In summary: Maps are a powerful data structure in Java's Collection Framework for storing and
retrieving key-value pairs. Choose the appropriate Map implementation based on your specific
requirements for ordering, performance, and thread safety. Remember to handle key
uniqueness, hashCode()/equals() for custom keys, and synchronization correctly to ensure the
integrity and efficiency of your map operations.