What is the purpose of GetHashCode in C#?

What is the purpose of GetHashCode in C#?

GetHashCode is a method that returns a hash code for the current object, which is useful for hashing algorithms and data structures like hash tables.

How does GetHashCode work with equality in C#?

In C#, if two objects are considered equal (using Equals), they must return the same hash code. This is crucial for the performance of hash-based collections.

Can you give an example of overriding GetHashCode?

Sure! When you override GetHashCode, you typically combine the hash codes of the object's fields. For example:

public override int GetHashCode() {
    return Name.GetHashCode() ^ Age.GetHashCode();
}

What happens if I don't override GetHashCode?

If you don't override GetHashCode, the default implementation from the Object class will be used, which may not provide a suitable hash code for your object.