NAME

       Dict::new - Create a new dictionary.

SYNOPSIS

       Dict<a, b> new( Int buckets=157, Int(a) hashfn=hash )

ARGUMENTS

       buckets  The  number  of  hashing buckets to use. A larger number of buckets increases the
       speed of the dictionary (up to a limit) but uses more memory. A good choice is the nearest
       prime number to 1.5*(expected number of entries) , with the default being 157.

       hashfn  The  function  to  hash  the  keys.  This  function must take a key, and return an
       integer. A good hashing function will return different values for similar keys  (but  must
       of  course  always  return  the  same value for the same key!). A default built-in hashing
       function is provided, though if the keys are of type String , the Builtins.strHash (3kaya)
       function  should  be  used  instead,  and  if  the  keys  are  of  type  Int  you  may use
       Builtins.identity (3kaya) (though an array may provide faster insertion and lookup if  the
       keys  are  positive and either small or largely sequential). If the keys are an especially
       complex data type, it may again be best to write your own hashing function.

DESCRIPTION

       Create a new dictionary.

    d = Dict::new(); // 157 buckets, default hashing function
    d = Dict::new(31,strHash); // 31 buckets, String hashing function
                               // - suitable for holding about 20 values.

AUTHORS

       Kaya standard library by Edwin Brady, Chris Morris  and  others  (kaya@kayalang.org).  For
       further information see http://kayalang.org/

LICENSE

       The Kaya standard library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under
       the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License (version 2.1 or any later  version)  as
       published by the Free Software Foundation.

RELATED

       Dict.Dict (3kaya)
       Dict.add (3kaya)
       Dict.delete (3kaya)
       Dict.empty (3kaya)
       Dict.entries (3kaya)
       Dict.exists (3kaya)
       Dict.keys (3kaya)
       Dict.lookup (3kaya)
       Dict.vals (3kaya)