Map implementation with duplicate keys

Question

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

Answer 1

I used this:

java.util.List<java.util.Map.Entry<String,Integer>> pairList= new java.util.ArrayList<>();

Answer 2

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.

Answer 3

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)
{
   ...
}

Answer 4

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?

Answer 5

commons.apache.org

MultiValueMap class

Answer 6

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);
    }
}