What is the hashCode() method in Java?

Can you explain what the hashCode() method is in Java?

Sure! The hashCode() method in Java is used to return a hash code value for an object, which is an integer representation.

Why is the hashCode() method important?

It's important for hash-based collections like HashMap and HashSet, as it helps in efficiently locating objects.

How do I override the hashCode() method?

To override it, you should ensure that it is consistent with equals() and use the same fields that are used in equals() for generating the hash code.

Can you give me an example of overriding hashCode()?

Certainly! Here's a simple example:

@Override
public int hashCode() {
    return Objects.hash(field1, field2);
}