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HashMap vs Hashtable vs ConcurrentHashMa

The document compares HashMap, Hashtable, and ConcurrentHashMap, highlighting their key features, performance, and use cases. HashMap is suitable for single-threaded environments, Hashtable is thread-safe but slower and less commonly used, while ConcurrentHashMap offers high performance in multi-threaded scenarios. It also provides real-life examples and analogies to illustrate the differences between these data structures.

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dharmaraj.171215
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7 views

HashMap vs Hashtable vs ConcurrentHashMa

The document compares HashMap, Hashtable, and ConcurrentHashMap, highlighting their key features, performance, and use cases. HashMap is suitable for single-threaded environments, Hashtable is thread-safe but slower and less commonly used, while ConcurrentHashMap offers high performance in multi-threaded scenarios. It also provides real-life examples and analogies to illustrate the differences between these data structures.

Uploaded by

dharmaraj.171215
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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HashMap vs Hashtable vs ConcurrentHashMap.

md 2025-01-02

HashMap vs Hashtable vs ConcurrentHashMap

1. HashMap

Overview:

Introduced: JDK 1.2


Thread Safety: Not thread-safe (no synchronization).
Performance: Faster because it does not involve synchronization.
Null Values: Allows one null key and multiple null values.
Use Case: Single-threaded environments or when thread safety is not a concern.

How it Works:

Uses a bucket-based system for storing data (key-value pairs).


Uses hashing to determine the bucket for a key.
Collisions are handled using a linked list or binary tree in the bucket.

Real-Life Example:

Imagine a shopping cart system where each customer has their cart represented as a HashMap (key =
product ID, value = quantity). Since each cart is specific to a user and not shared, thread safety is
unnecessary.

2. Hashtable

Overview:

Introduced: JDK 1.0


Thread Safety: Thread-safe (synchronized).
Performance: Slower due to synchronized methods.
Null Values: Does not allow null keys or null values.
Use Case: Rarely used today, as ConcurrentHashMap is more efficient and provides better thread
safety.

How it Works:

Also uses a bucket-based system.


Synchronizes every method, meaning only one thread can access a method at a time, leading to
significant performance overhead.

Real-Life Example:

Consider a legacy system managing employee records. A Hashtable was used because thread safety was
required, but better options like ConcurrentHashMap weren't available at the time.

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HashMap vs Hashtable vs ConcurrentHashMap.md 2025-01-02

3. ConcurrentHashMap

Overview:

Introduced: JDK 1.5


Thread Safety: Thread-safe with high performance.
Performance: Faster than Hashtable due to fine-grained locking (locks only affected segments).
Null Values: Does not allow null keys or null values.
Use Case: Multi-threaded environments where high performance is required.

How it Works:

Divides the map into segments or buckets.


Write operations lock only the affected bucket, allowing other threads to access the rest of the map
concurrently.
Read operations are mostly lock-free.

Real-Life Example:

Imagine a stock trading system where real-time updates of stock prices are stored in a
ConcurrentHashMap. Multiple threads update prices for different stocks, and traders query prices
simultaneously without waiting.

Key Differences

Feature HashMap Hashtable ConcurrentHashMap

Thread-safe Thread-safe (fine-


Thread-Safety Not thread-safe
(synchronized) grained locks)

High (better
Performance High Low (due to locking)
concurrency)

Null Allows one null key, multiple No null


No null keys/values
Keys/Values null values keys/values

Usage Single-threaded apps Legacy systems Multi-threaded apps

Only affected bucket is


Synchronization None Whole map is locked
locked

Introduced In JDK 1.2 JDK 1.0 JDK 1.5

When to Use?

1. Use HashMap When:

Working in a single-threaded application or thread safety is not a concern.


Example: User session storage for a single user.

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HashMap vs Hashtable vs ConcurrentHashMap.md 2025-01-02

2. Use Hashtable When:

Maintaining or working with legacy systems.


Example: Old HR systems with thread safety requirements.

3. Use ConcurrentHashMap When:

Working in a multi-threaded environment where performance and thread safety are critical.
Example: Caching systems in web applications.

Real-World Analogy

HashMap: A personal diary where only you write and read. No need to lock it because only one person
accesses it.

Hashtable: A shared locker with one key. Only one person can open it at a time, so others must wait.

ConcurrentHashMap: A library with multiple sections, each section accessible independently. Multiple
people can work in different sections simultaneously without waiting.

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