Java, Equality, Mutability

TL;DR version: Don’t implement equals() on mutable objects.

This is a post I’ve been tossing around for a couple of years, ever since a lunchtime debate with a colleague. It’s a simple statement: You shouldn’t implement the equals() method if your object isn’t immutable.¹

Why? Because when two objects are equal, they should really be considered to be interchangeable. If I’ve got two references to two distinct-but-equal objects, it shouldn’t matter if those references get mixed up – say, by trying to add into a Set (Do you check the return code when adding to a collection?). You can only do this properly if the objects are immutable – because if they are mutable, then the distinct-but-equal objects can become distinct-and-not-equal over time.

This discussion centred around persistent data (with Hibernate, but that’s not important). I was making the point that you couldn’t rely on the equals() method to determine if, say, two Customer objects were equal – because even if they were backed by the same data, the objects could be divergent. This is true even if they have the same version – because they could both be dirty but with different changes. Because of this, there is no reason to implement equals() on a Hibernate-backed object.²

Instead of implementing equals() on a mutable object, it’s much better to create smaller, immutable objects (which can implement equals()), and use those. For example, rather than having a Map of Orders keyed by Customer objects, have a Map of Orders keyed by CustomerId objects. If you’re using Hibernate, turn these into custom types – that’s a good idea, anyway.

So this becomes really simple: don’t implement the equals() method if your objects are mutable. Just don’t. Feel free to create lots of smaller types, and compose them upwards. Immutability is a good thing – even if you don’t buy into the functional-programming fad.

Author: Robert Watkins

My name is Robert Watkins. I am a software developer and have been for over 20 years now. I currently work for people, but my opinions here are in no way endorsed by them (which is cool; their opinions aren’t endorsed by me either). My main professional interests are in Java development, using Agile methods, with a historical focus on building web based applications. I’m also a Mac-fan and love my iPhone, which I’m currently learning how to code for. I live and work in Brisbane, Australia, but I grew up in the Northern Territory, and still find Brisbane too cold (after 22 years here). I’m married, with two children and one cat. My politics are socialist in tendency, my religious affiliation is atheist (aka “none of the above”), my attitude is condescending and my moral standing is lying down. View all posts by Robert Watkins