Hashmap holding different data types as values for instance Integer, String and Object

Question

I need to create a hashmap with key as integer and it should hold multiple values of different data types. For example if the key is msg id and the values are

message of type string
timestamp of type time
count of type integer
version of type integer

Then how to store the values of different data type with a single key into the hashmap?

You need to create a class holding all that information, and than use a `Map` — jlordo, Jan 30 '13 at 08:14
If all your variables are of type Object then you could create it as Map — lokoko, Feb 07 '13 at 09:47
There are two ways this question can be read: (1) How to have each HashMap element represent a collection of data and (2) how create a HashMap wherein the elements are of nonuniform type. I believe that the intended meaning is #1, but I am grateful for the answers to #2. — user36800, Nov 05 '20 at 23:16

score 63 · Answer 1 · edited Dec 04 '13 at 09:34

If you don't have Your own Data Class, then you can design your map as follows

Map<Integer, Object> map=new HashMap<Integer, Object>();

Here don't forget to use "instanceof" operator while retrieving the values from MAP.

If you have your own Data class then then you can design your map as follows

Map<Integer, YourClassName> map=new HashMap<Integer, YourClassName>();

import java.util.Date;
import java.util.HashMap;
import java.util.Map;
import java.util.Set;


public class HashMapTest {
public static void main(String[] args) {
    Map<Integer,Demo> map=new HashMap<Integer, Demo>();
    Demo d1= new Demo(1,"hi",new Date(),1,1);
    Demo d2= new Demo(2,"this",new Date(),2,1);
    Demo d3= new Demo(3,"is",new Date(),3,1);
    Demo d4= new Demo(4,"mytest",new Date(),4,1);
    //adding values to map
    map.put(d1.getKey(), d1);
    map.put(d2.getKey(), d2);
    map.put(d3.getKey(), d3);
    map.put(d4.getKey(), d4);
    //retrieving values from map
    Set<Integer> keySet= map.keySet();
    for(int i:keySet){
        System.out.println(map.get(i));
    }
    //searching key on map
    System.out.println(map.containsKey(d1.getKey()));
    //searching value on map
    System.out.println(map.containsValue(d1));
}

}
class Demo{
    private int key;
    private String message;
    private Date time;
    private int count;
    private int version;

    public Demo(int key,String message, Date time, int count, int version){
        this.key=key;
        this.message = message;
        this.time = time;
        this.count = count;
        this.version = version;
    }
    public String getMessage() {
        return message;
    }
    public Date getTime() {
        return time;
    }
    public int getCount() {
        return count;
    }
    public int getVersion() {
        return version;
    }
    public int getKey() {
        return key;
    }
    @Override
    public String toString() {
        return "Demo [message=" + message + ", time=" + time
                + ", count=" + count + ", version=" + version + "]";
    }

}

can u plz provide me with an example for creating the hashmap like below and adding and searching and retrieving values from it "Map map=new HashMap();" — user2024439, Jan 31 '13 at 07:43
Yep Sure.. please find the edited answer.. The example is only all about how to add,search, retrieve values in HashMap. — Rakesh Mahapatro, Jan 31 '13 at 08:53

score 47 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 27 '13 at 06:36

You have some variables that are different types in Java language like that:

 message of type string
 timestamp of type time
 count of type integer
 version of type integer

If you use a HashMap like:

HashMap<String,Object> yourHash = new HashMap<String,Object>();
yourHash.put("message","message");
yourHash.put("timestamp",timestamp);
yourHash.put("count ",count);
yourHash.put("version ",version);

If you want to use the yourHash:

for(String key : yourHash.keySet()){
  String message = (String) yourHash.get(key);
  Datetime timestamp= (Datetime) yourHash.get(key);
  int timestamp= (int) yourHash.get(key);
}

I didn't think to try casting to the datatypes, because the error I was seeing was "cannot cast type". Then I casted them, even though it said it "cannot cast type", and it worked. :') — Collin, Feb 18 '22 at 17:25

Drogba · Answer 3 · 2013-01-30T08:26:27.070

20

Define a class to store your data first

public class YourDataClass {

    private String messageType;
    private Timestamp timestamp;
    private int count;
    private int version;

    // your get/setters
    ...........
}

And then initialize your map:

Map<Integer, YourDataClass> map = new HashMap<Integer, YourDataClass>();

edited Jan 30 '13 at 08:26

answered Jan 30 '13 at 08:19

Drogba

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Although correct, this answer defeats the whole purpose of the OPs question. The goal of putting these values into a Map object is precisely avoiding creating tons of classes, and having the flexibility of adding as many entries in the map as needed. – Merlevede Sep 19 '15 at 17:03
Meh. It answers the question as asked. – john k Feb 02 '18 at 05:53

Will · Answer 4 · 2016-04-25T08:24:24.380

6

Create an object holding following properties with an appropriate name.

message
timestamp
count
version

and use this as a value in your map.

Also consider overriding the equals() and hashCode() method accordingly if you do not want object equality to be used for comparison (e.g. when inserting values into your map).

edited Apr 25 '16 at 08:24

answered Jan 30 '13 at 08:15

Will

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Good suggestion, but `equals()` and `hashCode()` are not important, as his keys will be `Integer`. – jlordo Jan 30 '13 at 08:16
Agree, not necessary for using it as a value, but I guess he might want to compare the values once retrieved from the map. And second it's good practice. I would do it in any case. – Will Jan 30 '13 at 08:18
1

I agree that it's good practice and upvoted your answer. But we have no clue what OP wants to do with those objects once he reads them from the map. – jlordo Jan 30 '13 at 08:19
+1 for the first correct answer, but Drogba's answer is easier to read. – Duncan Jones Jan 30 '13 at 08:22
I also agree with @jlordo. If you draw attention to particular methods (e.g. `equals()`), you need to explain why this is important. Merely highlighting best practice will tend to bloat answers unnecessarily. – Duncan Jones Jan 30 '13 at 08:23
equals and hashcode exist for objects to be used in collection framework, not for "I guess he might want to compare the values" ! all your answers has wrong reasoning. you can compare object with out equals and hashcode, but you cann't use them with collections and maps in proper way with out equals and hashcode ! – magulla Apr 24 '16 at 23:14
Very important point. Embarrassing how I missed this. Thanks for input. Correction made. – Will Apr 25 '16 at 08:27
This should be a better option than casting I think. – Litchy Dec 23 '21 at 11:27

score 4 · Answer 5 · answered Feb 06 '19 at 08:01

Do simply like below....

HashMap<String,Object> yourHash = new HashMap<String,Object>();
yourHash.put(yourKey+"message","message");
yourHash.put(yourKey+"timestamp",timestamp);
yourHash.put(yourKey+"count ",count);
yourHash.put(yourKey+"version ",version);

typecast the value while getting back. For ex:

    int count = Integer.parseInt(yourHash.get(yourKey+"count"));
//or
int count = Integer.valueOf(yourHash.get(yourKey+"count"));
//or
int count = (Integer)yourHash.get(yourKey+"count"); //or (int)

Hashmap holding different data types as values for instance Integer, String and Object

5 Answers5

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