How do I access nested HashMaps in Java?
Solution 1
You can do it like you assumed. But your HashMap has to be templated:
Map<String, Map<String, String>> map =
new HashMap<String, Map<String, String>>();
Otherwise you have to do a cast to Map
after you retrieve the second map from the first.
Map map = new HashMap();
((Map)map.get( "keyname" )).get( "nestedkeyname" );
Solution 2
You can get the nested value by repeating .get()
, but with deeply nested maps you have to do a lot of casting into Map
. An easier way is to use a generic method for getting a nested value.
Implementation
public static <T> T getNestedValue(Map map, String... keys) {
Object value = map;
for (String key : keys) {
value = ((Map) value).get(key);
}
return (T) value;
}
Usage
// Map contents with string and even a list:
{
"data": {
"vehicles": {
"list": [
{
"registration": {
"owner": {
"id": "3643619"
}
}
}
]
}
}
}
List<Map> list = getNestedValue(mapContents, "data", "vehicles", "list");
Map first = list.get(0);
String id = getNestedValue(first, "registration", "owner", "id");
Solution 3
Yes.
See:
public static void main(String args[]) {
HashMap<String, HashMap<String, Object>> map = new HashMap<String, HashMap<String,Object>>();
map.put("key", new HashMap<String, Object>());
map.get("key").put("key2", "val2");
System.out.println(map.get("key").get("key2"));
}
Solution 4
If you plan on constructing HashMaps with variable depth, use a recursive data structure.
Below is an implementation providing a sample interface:
class NestedMap<K, V> {
private final HashMap<K, NestedMap> child;
private V value;
public NestedMap() {
child = new HashMap<>();
value = null;
}
public boolean hasChild(K k) {
return this.child.containsKey(k);
}
public NestedMap<K, V> getChild(K k) {
return this.child.get(k);
}
public void makeChild(K k) {
this.child.put(k, new NestedMap());
}
public V getValue() {
return value;
}
public void setValue(V v) {
value = v;
}
}
and example usage:
class NestedMapIllustration {
public static void main(String[] args) {
NestedMap<Character, String> m = new NestedMap<>();
m.makeChild('f');
m.getChild('f').makeChild('o');
m.getChild('f').getChild('o').makeChild('o');
m.getChild('f').getChild('o').getChild('o').setValue("bar");
System.out.println(
"nested element at 'f' -> 'o' -> 'o' is " +
m.getChild('f').getChild('o').getChild('o').getValue());
}
}
Solution 5
As others have said you can do this but you should define the map with generics like so:
Map<String, Map<String, String>> map = new HashMap<String, Map<String,String>>();
However, if you just blindly run the following:
map.get("keyname").get("nestedkeyname");
you will get a null pointer exception whenever keyname is not in the map and your program will crash. You really should add the following check:
String valueFromMap = null;
if(map.containsKey("keyname")){
valueFromMap = map.get("keyname").get("nestedkeyname");
}
![Mridang Agarwalla](https://i.stack.imgur.com/98pQN.jpg?s=256&g=1)
Mridang Agarwalla
I'm a software developer who relishes authoring Java and Python, hacking on Android and toying with AppEngine. I have a penchant for development and a passion for the business side of software. In between all the work, I contribute to a number of open-source projects, learn to master the art of cooking Asian cuisine and try to stay sane while learning to fly my Align Trex-600 Nitro Heli.
Updated on July 09, 2022Comments
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Mridang Agarwalla almost 2 years
I have a HashMap in Java, the contents of which (as you all probably know) can be accessed by
HashMap.get("keyname");
If a have a HashMap inside another HashMap i.e. a nested HashMap, how would i access the contents? Can i do this like this, inline:
HashMap.get("keyname").get("nestedkeyname");
Thank you.
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Torben about 5 yearsThe tail recuresion and array copying is completely unnecessary.
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Adam DeWitt about 5 yearsTorben - please explain.
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user12193365 over 4 yearsoutput is : {dog2={Age=6, Name=pumpkin, Food=ppl's Ass}, dog1={Age=3, Name=Breezi, Food=Chicken liver}} 3
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JGFMK over 2 yearsAfter
=
can't you just do newHashMap<>();
Less typing.. (May have been asked in the pre 1.8 era. Then it would have applied). -
iBug over 2 yearsshould be the selected answer.