Hashtable(int initialCapacity, float loadFactor)

[ravian]

I am confused aboout the following Hashtable constructor:

Code:

Hashtable(int initialCapacity, float loadFactor)

What is loadFactor? Is it the factor by which Hashtable grows?? If yes - why is it in float?

[m_srikanth]

The load factor is a measure of how full the hash table is allowed to get before its capacity is automatically increased.

check the API for further information :
JAVA API for HashTable

[ravian]

Just checked the API. It says:
- loadFactor - the load factor of the hashtable.

If I specify 1.5, what exactly it means in terms of Hashtable.

[m_srikanth]

The load factor is a measure of how full the hash table is allowed to get before its capacity is automatically increased. When the number of entries in the hashtable exceeds the product of the load factor and the current capacity, the capacity is increased by calling the rehash method.

Generally, the default load factor (.75) offers a good tradeoff between time and space costs. Higher values decrease the space overhead but increase the time cost to look up an entry (which is reflected in most Hashtable operations, including get and put).

[ravian]

Thanks. This explains a lot.