How does a Java HashMap handle different objects with the same hash code?

Question

As per my understanding I think:

1. It is perfectly legal for two objects to have the same hashcode.
2. If two objects are equal (using the equals() method)

Answer 1

As it is said, a picture is worth 1000 words. I say: some code is better than 1000 words. Here's the source code of HashMap. Get method:

/**
     * Implements Map.get and related methods
     *
     * @param hash hash for key
     * @param key the key
     * @return the node, or null if none
     */
    final Node getNode(int hash, Object key) {
        Node[] tab; Node first, e; int n; K k;
        if ((tab = table) != null && (n = tab.length) > 0 &&
            (first = tab[(n - 1) & hash]) != null) {
            if (first.hash == hash && // always check first node
                ((k = first.key) == key || (key != null && key.equals(k))))
                return first;
            if ((e = first.next) != null) {
                if (first instanceof TreeNode)
                    return ((TreeNode)first).getTreeNode(hash, key);
                do {
                    if (e.hash == hash &&
                        ((k = e.key) == key || (key != null && key.equals(k))))
                        return e;
                } while ((e = e.next) != null);
            }
        }
        return null;
    }

So it becomes clear that hash is used to find the "bucket" and the first element is always checked in that bucket. If not, then equals of the key is used to find the actual element in the linked list.

Let's see the put() method:

  /**
     * Implements Map.put and related methods
     *
     * @param hash hash for key
     * @param key the key
     * @param value the value to put
     * @param onlyIfAbsent if true, don't change existing value
     * @param evict if false, the table is in creation mode.
     * @return previous value, or null if none
     */
    final V putVal(int hash, K key, V value, boolean onlyIfAbsent,
                   boolean evict) {
        Node[] tab; Node p; int n, i;
        if ((tab = table) == null || (n = tab.length) == 0)
            n = (tab = resize()).length;
        if ((p = tab[i = (n - 1) & hash]) == null)
            tab[i] = newNode(hash, key, value, null);
        else {
            Node e; K k;
            if (p.hash == hash &&
                ((k = p.key) == key || (key != null && key.equals(k))))
                e = p;
            else if (p instanceof TreeNode)
                e = ((TreeNode)p).putTreeVal(this, tab, hash, key, value);
            else {
                for (int binCount = 0; ; ++binCount) {
                    if ((e = p.next) == null) {
                        p.next = newNode(hash, key, value, null);
                        if (binCount >= TREEIFY_THRESHOLD - 1) // -1 for 1st
                            treeifyBin(tab, hash);
                        break;
                    }
                    if (e.hash == hash &&
                        ((k = e.key) == key || (key != null && key.equals(k))))
                        break;
                    p = e;
                }
            }
            if (e != null) { // existing mapping for key
                V oldValue = e.value;
                if (!onlyIfAbsent || oldValue == null)
                    e.value = value;
                afterNodeAccess(e);
                return oldValue;
            }
        }
        ++modCount;
        if (++size > threshold)
            resize();
        afterNodeInsertion(evict);
        return null;
    }

It's slightly more complicated, but it becomes clear that the new element is put in the tab at the position calculated based on hash:

i = (n - 1) & hash here i is the index where the new element will be put (or it is the "bucket"). n is the size of the tab array (array of "buckets").

First, it is tried to be put as the first element of in that "bucket". If there is already an element, then append a new node to the list.