equals() & hashCode() method in Object class

[shan sundaram]

Hi,
What is the use of equals() & hashCode() method? where/how to use it?

Thanks in advance,
V.Shanmugam.

[Paul Sturrock]

Have you looked at the JavaDocs for the Object class?

[Eitan Levi]

In case you're asking because you're interested in overriding them for your own classes, there's a really good article on JavaWorld: How to avoid traps and correctly override methods from java.lang.Object. It shows you how to properly override the equals and hashCode methods.