Implementing `equals` and `hashCode` correctly in Java.
Jul 06, 2025 am 02:32 AMYou must override both equals() and hashCode() to maintain consistency in hash-based collections. 1) Overriding equals() without hashCode() breaks the contract that equal objects must have equal hash codes, leading to potential lookup failures in HashMap or HashSet. 2) Implement equals() by checking identity, nullity, class type, and field equality using Objects.equals() for nullable fields. 3) Implement hashCode() using the same fields as equals(), preferably with Objects.hash(). 4) Do not include derived or unused fields in hashCode(). 5) Skip overriding only when object identity suffices or when instances are inherently unique and not used in hash collections.
When you're working with Java objects and need to compare them or use them in hash-based collections like HashSet
or HashMap
, it's essential to override both the equals()
and hashCode()
methods correctly. Just doing one without the other can lead to inconsistent behavior, especially in collections that rely on hashing.

Why You Need Both equals
and hashCode
Java’s contract for Object
says that if two objects are equal according to equals()
, they must have the same hash code. So if you override equals()
but not hashCode()
, you risk breaking this rule. That means your object might not work as expected in a HashMap
or HashSet
.

For example:
- Two objects that are logically equal (based on your
equals
) could end up in different buckets because theirhashCode()
values differ. - As a result, lookups may fail even though the object is "equal" — which can be really confusing when debugging.
So always override both together.

How to Implement equals
Properly
Here’s how to write a solid equals()
method:
- Check if the object being compared is the same instance (
this == obj
) → return true. - Check if the object is null or of a different class → return false.
- Cast to the correct type.
- Compare all relevant fields for equality.
@Override public boolean equals(Object obj) { if (this == obj) return true; if (obj == null || getClass() != obj.getClass()) return false; MyType other = (MyType) obj; return Objects.equals(field1, other.field1) && field2 == other.field2; }
A few notes:
- Use
Objects.equals(a, b)
for fields that could benull
. - For primitive types like
int
, just use==
. - Make sure you include all fields that define object identity.
Writing a Good hashCode
Method
The easiest and safest way is to use Objects.hash(...)
with the same fields used in equals()
:
@Override public int hashCode() { return Objects.hash(field1, field2); }
Alternatively, you can build it manually using a seed and combining each field. But unless you have special performance concerns, stick with Objects.hash()
.
Important points:
- Always use the same set of fields used in
equals()
. - Don’t include derived or computed fields unless they’re part of the equality definition.
- If a field isn't used in
equals
, it shouldn't be inhashCode
.
When You Can Skip Overriding
You don’t need to override these methods if:
- Your class doesn’t care about logical equality beyond object identity.
- You won’t be storing instances in hash-based collections.
- You're dealing with entities where each instance is unique by design (like some event objects).
But in most business logic or domain models — like user data, products, settings — overriding is necessary.
That’s basically it. It’s not complicated, but it’s easy to get wrong. Keep the fields consistent between the two methods, and always pair them when you override.
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