Kotlin
equals and hashCode
Learn automatic equals and hashCode generation.
Automatic equals generation
Data classes generate the equals method based on the primary constructor parameters. Two instances are equal if they have the same class and the same property values.
Example: data class Point(val x: Int, val y: Int). Point(1, 2) == Point(1, 2) returns true. In normal classes the == operator does reference comparison, but in data classes it does content comparison. You do not need to write equals yourself.
Automatic hashCode generation
Data classes also generate the hashCode method based on the primary constructor parameters. Equal instances have equal hash codes; this ensures consistent behavior in HashSet and HashMap.
Example: Point(1, 2).hashCode() == Point(1, 2).hashCode() returns true. If equals is true, hashCode must be the same; data classes provide this contract automatically. You do not need to write hashCode by hand.
Exercise Equals check with the Point data class
Define a data class named Point with a primary constructor taking val x: Int, val y: Int. In main create two Point(1, 2) instances (a and b). First print the result of a == b, then print the result of a.equals(b) with println.
Show example solution
data class Point(val x: Int, val y: Int)
fun main() {
val a = Point(1, 2)
val b = Point(1, 2)
println(a == b)
println(a.equals(b))
}
Test yourself
-
Two <code>Point(1, 2)</code> instances are compared with <code>==</code>. If Point is a data class, what is the result?
In data classes == compares content.
- false (different references)
- Compile error
- Runtime error
- true (same content)
Show answer
true (same content) — A data class == compares content; same values give true.
-
Complete the equals comparison
val a = Point(1, 2)
val b = Point(1, 2)
println(a ____ b)
Show answer
val a = Point(1, 2)
val b = Point(1, 2)
println(a == b)
-
Match equals and hashCode concepts
- Point(1,2) == Point(1,2)
- Content equality
- equals true implies hashCode
- Must be equal
- == in a normal class
- Reference comparison
- data class equals
- Auto-generated
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