Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
The hashCode() method is used in Java to generate a unique integer value representing an object's identity. It is often overridden in classes when custom equality comparisons need to be made.
The Object class is the root class in Java from which all other classes are derived. It provides basic methods such as hashCode(), equals(), and toString().
Hash table: A hash table is a data structure that uses hash codes to store and retrieve values efficiently. It is often used for fast lookup operations.