Java HashMap vs HashTable

Java HashMap

Java HashMap Implementation

Java HashMap Examples

Java HashMap vs HashTable

Java HashMap Interview Questions

Both HashMap and HashTable store key/pair values. They differ in mainly in thread safety, performance, and acceptance of null keys.

Thread safety

HashTable is the synchronized version of HashMap. This means HashTable is thread safe whereas HashMap is not.

With that said, you can easily "synchronize" a HashMap like:

Map m = Collections.synchronizedMap(hashMap)

Null

HashMap allows a null key. HashTable does not.

Performance

Synchronized operations are inherently slow. Even if thread safety is important to you, a HashMap can easily be converted int a thread-safe alternative.

A HashMap is also designed to fail fast whereas a HashTable will not.