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module Core_hashtbl

: sig

For many students of ocaml, using hashtables is complicated by the functors. Here are a few tips:

For a list of hashtable functions see Hashtbl_intf.S.

To create a hashtable with string keys use String.Table.

    let table = String.Table.create () ~size:4 in
    List.iter ~f:(fun (key, data) -> Hashtbl.set table ~key ~data)
      [ ("A", 1); ("B", 2); ("C", 3); ];
    Hashtbl.find table "C"

Here 4 need only be a guess at the hashtable's future size. There are other similar pre-made hashtables, eg Int63.Table or Host_and_port.Table.

To create a hashtable with a custom key type use Hashable.

        module Key = struct
          module T = struct
            type t = String.t * Int63.t with sexp
            let compare = compare
            let hash = Hashtbl.hash
          end
          include T
          include Hashable.Make (T)
        end
        let table = Key.Table.create () ~size:4 in
        List.iter ~f:(fun (key, data) -> Hashtbl.set table ~key ~data)
          [ (("pi", Int63.zero), 3.14159);
            (("e", Int63.minus_one), 2.71828);
            (("Euler", Int63.one), 0.577215);
          ];
        Hashtbl.find table ("pi", Int63.zero)

Performance may improve if you define equal and hash explicitly, eg:

        let equal (x, y) (x', y') = String.(=) x x' && Int63.(=) y y'
        let hash (x, y) = String.hash x + Int63.hash y * 65599
include Core_hashtbl_intf.Hashtbl
end