Best implementation for hashCode method for a collection

Question

How do we decide on the best implementation of hashCode() method for a collection (assuming that equals method has been overridden correctly) ?

Answer 1

Although this is linked to Android documentation (Wayback Machine) and My own code on Github, it will work for Java in general. My answer is an extension of dmeister's Answer with just code that is much easier to read and understand.

@Override 
public int hashCode() {

    // Start with a non-zero constant. Prime is preferred
    int result = 17;

    // Include a hash for each field.

    // Primatives

    result = 31 * result + (booleanField ? 1 : 0);                   // 1 bit   » 32-bit

    result = 31 * result + byteField;                                // 8 bits  » 32-bit 
    result = 31 * result + charField;                                // 16 bits » 32-bit
    result = 31 * result + shortField;                               // 16 bits » 32-bit
    result = 31 * result + intField;                                 // 32 bits » 32-bit

    result = 31 * result + (int)(longField ^ (longField >>> 32));    // 64 bits » 32-bit

    result = 31 * result + Float.floatToIntBits(floatField);         // 32 bits » 32-bit

    long doubleFieldBits = Double.doubleToLongBits(doubleField);     // 64 bits (double) » 64-bit (long) » 32-bit (int)
    result = 31 * result + (int)(doubleFieldBits ^ (doubleFieldBits >>> 32));

    // Objects

    result = 31 * result + Arrays.hashCode(arrayField);              // var bits » 32-bit

    result = 31 * result + referenceField.hashCode();                // var bits » 32-bit (non-nullable)   
    result = 31 * result +                                           // var bits » 32-bit (nullable)   
        (nullableReferenceField == null
            ? 0
            : nullableReferenceField.hashCode());

    return result;

}

EDIT

Typically, when you override hashcode(...), you also want to override equals(...). So for those that will or has already implemented equals, here is a good reference from my Github...

@Override
public boolean equals(Object o) {

    // Optimization (not required).
    if (this == o) {
        return true;
    }

    // Return false if the other object has the wrong type, interface, or is null.
    if (!(o instanceof MyType)) {
        return false;
    }

    MyType lhs = (MyType) o; // lhs means "left hand side"

            // Primitive fields
    return     booleanField == lhs.booleanField
            && byteField    == lhs.byteField
            && charField    == lhs.charField
            && shortField   == lhs.shortField
            && intField     == lhs.intField
            && longField    == lhs.longField
            && floatField   == lhs.floatField
            && doubleField  == lhs.doubleField

            // Arrays

            && Arrays.equals(arrayField, lhs.arrayField)

            // Objects

            && referenceField.equals(lhs.referenceField)
            && (nullableReferenceField == null
                        ? lhs.nullableReferenceField == null
                        : nullableReferenceField.equals(lhs.nullableReferenceField));
}