Map implementation with duplicate keys – Error is an illegal operation performed by the user which results in the abnormal working of the program. By now, you’ve probably seen a few errors, either when compiling or running your code like Map implementation with duplicate keys. It can be frustrating, but they can also give you a lot of information about exactly how you can fix the problems in your code about java and duplicates. In this post covers the types of errors you’ll see when programming in Java, and how to fix them. Don’t pay any attention to the number of errors. Just read the first error message and work on fixing that error.
Problem :
I want to have a map with duplicate keys.
I know there are many map implementations (Eclipse shows me about 50), so I bet there must be one that allows this. I know it’s easy to write your own map that does this, but I would rather use some existing solution.
Maybe something in commons-collections or google-collections?
Solution :
You are searching for a multimap, and indeed both commons-collections and Guava have several implementations for that. Multimaps allow for multiple keys by maintaining a collection of values per key, i.e. you can put a single object into the map, but you retrieve a collection.
If you can use Java 5, I would prefer Guava’s Multimap as it is generics-aware.
We don’t need to depend on the Google Collections external library. You can simply implement the following Map:
Map<String, ArrayList<String>> hashMap = new HashMap<String, ArrayList>();
public static void main(String... arg) {
// Add data with duplicate keys
addValues("A", "a1");
addValues("A", "a2");
addValues("B", "b");
// View data.
Iterator it = hashMap.keySet().iterator();
ArrayList tempList = null;
while (it.hasNext()) {
String key = it.next().toString();
tempList = hashMap.get(key);
if (tempList != null) {
for (String value: tempList) {
System.out.println("Key : "+key+ " , Value : "+value);
}
}
}
}
private void addValues(String key, String value) {
ArrayList tempList = null;
if (hashMap.containsKey(key)) {
tempList = hashMap.get(key);
if(tempList == null)
tempList = new ArrayList();
tempList.add(value);
} else {
tempList = new ArrayList();
tempList.add(value);
}
hashMap.put(key,tempList);
}
Please make sure to fine tune the code.
Multimap<Integer, String> multimap = ArrayListMultimap.create();
multimap.put(1, "A");
multimap.put(1, "B");
multimap.put(1, "C");
multimap.put(1, "A");
multimap.put(2, "A");
multimap.put(2, "B");
multimap.put(2, "C");
multimap.put(3, "A");
System.out.println(multimap.get(1));
System.out.println(multimap.get(2));
System.out.println(multimap.get(3));
Output is:
[A,B,C,A]
[A,B,C]
[A]
Note: we need to import library files.
http://www.java2s.com/Code/Jar/g/Downloadgooglecollectionsjar.htm
import com.google.common.collect.ArrayListMultimap;
import com.google.common.collect.Multimap;
or https://commons.apache.org/proper/commons-collections/download_collections.cgi
import org.apache.commons.collections.MultiMap;
import org.apache.commons.collections.map.MultiValueMap;
You could simply pass an array of values for the value in a regular HashMap, thus simulating duplicate keys, and it would be up to you to decide what data to use.
You may also just use a MultiMap, although I do not like the idea of duplicate keys myself.
If you want iterate about a list of key-value-pairs (as you wrote in the comment), then a List or an array should be better. First combine your keys and values:
public class Pair
{
public Class1 key;
public Class2 value;
public Pair(Class1 key, Class2 value)
{
this.key = key;
this.value = value;
}
}
Replace Class1 and Class2 with the types you want to use for keys and values.
Now you can put them into an array or a list and iterate over them:
Pair[] pairs = new Pair[10];
...
for (Pair pair : pairs)
{
...
}
This problem can be solved with a list of map entry List<Map.Entry<K,V>>. We don’t need to use neither external libraries nor new implementation of Map. A map entry can be created like this:
Map.Entry<String, Integer> entry = new AbstractMap.SimpleEntry<String, Integer>("key", 1);
[June, 2021]
Learn from my mistakes…please don’t implement this on your own.
Guava multimap is the way to go.
A common enhancement required in multimaps is to disallow duplicate keys-value pairs.
Implementing/changing this in a your implementation can be annoying.
In Guava its as simple as:
HashMultimap<String, Integer> no_dupe_key_plus_val = HashMultimap.create();
ArrayListMultimap<String, Integer> allow_dupe_key_plus_val = ArrayListMultimap.create();
No fancy libs required.
Maps are defined by a unique key, so dont bend them, use a list. Streams are mighty.
import java.util.AbstractMap.SimpleImmutableEntry;
List<SimpleImmutableEntry<String, String>> nameToLocationMap = Arrays.asList(
new SimpleImmutableEntry<>("A", "A1"),
new SimpleImmutableEntry<>("A", "A2"),
new SimpleImmutableEntry<>("B", "B1"),
new SimpleImmutableEntry<>("B", "B1"),
);
And thats it.
Usage examples:
List<String> allBsLocations = nameToLocationMap.stream()
.filter(x -> x.getKey().equals("B"))
.map(x -> x.getValue())
.collect(Collectors.toList());
nameToLocationMap.stream().forEach(x ->
do stuff with: x.getKey()...x.getValue()...
You can use a TreeMap with a custom Comparator in order to treat each key as unequal to the others. It would also preserve the insertion order in your map, just like a LinkedHashMap. So, the net result would be like a LinkedHashMap which allows duplicate keys!
This is a very simple implementation without the need of any third party dependencies or complications of MultiMaps.
import java.util.Map;
import java.util.TreeMap;
...
...
//Define a TreeMap with a custom Comparator
Map<Integer, String> map = new TreeMap<>((a, b) -> 1); // See notes 1 and 2
//Populate the map
map.put(1, "One");
map.put(3, "Three");
map.put(1, "One One");
map.put(7, "Seven");
map.put(2, "Two");
map.put(1, "One One One");
//Display the map entries:
map.entrySet().forEach(System.out::println);
//See note number 3 for the following:
Map<Integer, String> sortedTreeMap = map.entrySet().stream()
.sorted(Map.Entry.comparingByKey())
.collect(Collectors.toMap(
Map.Entry::getKey, Map.Entry::getValue,
(x, y) -> x, () -> new TreeMap<>((a, b) -> 1)
));
//Display the entries of this sorted TreeMap:
sortedTreeMap.entrySet().forEach(System.out::println);
...
Notes:
- You can also use any positive integer in place of 1 in the comparator’s definition here.
- If you use any negative integer instead, then it will reverse the insertion order in your map.
- If you also want to sort this map based on the keys (which is the default behavior of a TreeMap), then you may do this operation on the current map.
/* @param frameTypeHash: Key -> Integer (frameID), Value -> HashMap (innerMap)
@param innerMap: Key -> String (extIP), Value -> String
If the key exists, retrieve the stored HashMap innerMap
and put the constructed key, value pair
*/
if (frameTypeHash.containsKey(frameID)){
//Key exists, add the key/value to innerHashMap
HashMap innerMap = (HashMap)frameTypeHash.get(frameID);
innerMap.put(extIP, connName+":"+frameType+":"+interfaceName);
} else {
HashMap<String, String> innerMap = new HashMap<String, String>();
innerMap.put(extIP, connName+":"+frameType+":"+interfaceName);
// This means the key doesn't exists, adding it for the first time
frameTypeHash.put(frameID, innerMap );
}
}
class DuplicateMap<K, V>
{
enum MapType
{
Hash,LinkedHash
}
int HashCode = 0;
Map<Key<K>,V> map = null;
DuplicateMap()
{
map = new HashMap<Key<K>,V>();
}
DuplicateMap( MapType maptype )
{
if ( maptype == MapType.Hash ) {
map = new HashMap<Key<K>,V>();
}
else if ( maptype == MapType.LinkedHash ) {
map = new LinkedHashMap<Key<K>,V>();
}
else
map = new HashMap<Key<K>,V>();
}
V put( K key, V value )
{
return map.put( new Key<K>( key , HashCode++ ), value );
}
void putAll( Map<K, V> map1 )
{
Map<Key<K>,V> map2 = new LinkedHashMap<Key<K>,V>();
for ( Entry<K, V> entry : map1.entrySet() ) {
map2.put( new Key<K>( entry.getKey() , HashCode++ ), entry.getValue());
}
map.putAll(map2);
}
Set<Entry<K, V>> entrySet()
{
Set<Entry<K, V>> entry = new LinkedHashSet<Map.Entry<K,V>>();
for ( final Entry<Key<K>, V> entry1 : map.entrySet() ) {
entry.add( new Entry<K, V>(){
private K Key = entry1.getKey().Key();
private V Value = entry1.getValue();
@Override
public K getKey() {
return Key;
}
@Override
public V getValue() {
return Value;
}
@Override
public V setValue(V value) {
return null;
}});
}
return entry;
}
@Override
public String toString() {
StringBuilder builder = new StringBuilder();
builder.append("{");
boolean FirstIteration = true;
for ( Entry<K, V> entry : entrySet() ) {
builder.append( ( (FirstIteration)? "" : "," ) + ((entry.getKey()==null) ? null :entry.getKey().toString() ) + "=" + ((entry.getValue()==null) ? null :entry.getValue().toString() ) );
FirstIteration = false;
}
builder.append("}");
return builder.toString();
}
class Key<K1>
{
K1 Key;
int HashCode;
public Key(K1 key, int hashCode) {
super();
Key = key;
HashCode = hashCode;
}
public K1 Key() {
return Key;
}
@Override
public String toString() {
return Key.toString() ;
}
@Override
public int hashCode() {
return HashCode;
}
}
1, Map<String, List<String>> map = new HashMap<>();
this verbose solution has multiple drawbacks and is prone to errors. It
implies that we need to instantiate a Collection for every value, check for
its presence before adding or removing a value, delete it manually when no
values are left, etcetera.
2, org.apache.commons.collections4.MultiMap interface
3, com.google.common.collect.Multimap interface
what about such a MultiMap impl?
public class MultiMap<K, V> extends HashMap<K, Set<V>> {
private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
private Map<K, Set<V>> innerMap = new HashMap<>();
public Set<V> put(K key, V value) {
Set<V> valuesOld = this.innerMap.get(key);
HashSet<V> valuesNewTotal = new HashSet<>();
if (valuesOld != null) {
valuesNewTotal.addAll(valuesOld);
}
valuesNewTotal.add(value);
this.innerMap.put(key, valuesNewTotal);
return valuesOld;
}
public void putAll(K key, Set<V> values) {
for (V value : values) {
put(key, value);
}
}
@Override
public Set<V> put(K key, Set<V> value) {
Set<V> valuesOld = this.innerMap.get(key);
putAll(key, value);
return valuesOld;
}
@Override
public void putAll(Map<? extends K, ? extends Set<V>> mapOfValues) {
for (Map.Entry<? extends K, ? extends Set<V>> valueEntry : mapOfValues.entrySet()) {
K key = valueEntry.getKey();
Set<V> value = valueEntry.getValue();
putAll(key, value);
}
}
@Override
public Set<V> putIfAbsent(K key, Set<V> value) {
Set<V> valueOld = this.innerMap.get(key);
if (valueOld == null) {
putAll(key, value);
}
return valueOld;
}
@Override
public Set<V> get(Object key) {
return this.innerMap.get(key);
}
@Override
etc. etc. override all public methods size(), clear() .....
}
Could you also explain the context for which you are trying to implement a map with duplicate keys? I am sure there could be a better solution. Maps are intended to keep unique keys for good reason. Though if you really wanted to do it; you can always extend the class write a simple custom map class which has a collision mitigation function and would enable you to keep multiple entries with same keys.
Note: You must implement collision mitigation function such that, colliding keys are converted to unique set “always”. Something simple like, appending key with object hashcode or something?
just to be complete, Apache Commons Collections also has a MultiMap. The downside of course is that Apache Commons does not use Generics.
With a bit hack you can use HashSet with duplicate keys. WARNING: this is heavily HashSet implementation dependant.
class MultiKeyPair {
Object key;
Object value;
public MultiKeyPair(Object key, Object value) {
this.key = key;
this.value = value;
}
@Override
public int hashCode() {
return key.hashCode();
}
}
class MultiKeyList extends MultiKeyPair {
ArrayList<MultiKeyPair> list = new ArrayList<MultiKeyPair>();
public MultiKeyList(Object key) {
super(key, null);
}
@Override
public boolean equals(Object obj) {
list.add((MultiKeyPair) obj);
return false;
}
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
HashSet<MultiKeyPair> set = new HashSet<MultiKeyPair>();
set.add(new MultiKeyPair("A","a1"));
set.add(new MultiKeyPair("A","a2"));
set.add(new MultiKeyPair("B","b1"));
set.add(new MultiKeyPair("A","a3"));
MultiKeyList o = new MultiKeyList("A");
set.contains(o);
for (MultiKeyPair pair : o.list) {
System.out.println(pair.value);
}
}
If there are duplicate keys then a key may correspond to more than one value. The obvious solution is to map the key to a list of these values.
For example in Python:
map = dict()
map["driver"] = list()
map["driver"].append("john")
map["driver"].append("mike")
print map["driver"] # It shows john and mike
print map["driver"][0] # It shows john
print map["driver"][1] # It shows mike
I used this:
java.util.List<java.util.Map.Entry<String,Integer>> pairList= new java.util.ArrayList<>();