- lookup(): with a default value (const access)
For example,
Map<label> something;
value = something.lookup(key, -1);
being equivalent to the following:
Map<label> something;
value = -1; // bad value
if (something.found(key))
{
value = something[key];
}
except that lookup also makes it convenient to handle const references.
Eg,
const labelList& ids = someHash.lookup(key, labelList());
- For consistency, provide a two parameter HashTable '()' operator.
The lookup() method is, however, normally preferable when
const-only access is to be ensured.
- retain(): the counterpart to erase(), it only retains entries
corresponding to the listed keys.
For example,
HashTable<someType> largeCache;
wordHashSet preserve = ...;
largeCache.retain(preserve);
being roughly equivalent to the following two-stage process,
but with reduced overhead and typing, and fewer potential mistakes.
HashTable<someType> largeCache;
wordHashSet preserve = ...;
{
wordHashSet cull(largeCache.toc()); // all keys
cull.erase(preserve); // except those to preserve
largeCache.erase(cull); //
}
The HashSet &= operator and retain() are functionally equivalent,
but retain() also works with dissimilar value types.