Hashing Questions Medium
The purpose of a hash code in Java is to provide a unique numerical value for an object. It is used primarily for efficient retrieval and storage of objects in data structures such as hash tables. The hash code is generated by applying a hash function to the object's data, which converts the data into a fixed-size integer value. This hash code is then used as an index to quickly locate the object in a hash table or to determine its position in a data structure. The hash code is also used in conjunction with the equals() method to check for object equality, as objects with the same hash code are likely to be equal.