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# QDict Class Reference

The QDict class is a template class that provides a dictionary based on `QString` keys. More...

`#include <qdict.h>`

Inherits QGDict.

List of all member functions.

## Public Members

- QDict ( int size=17, bool caseSensitive=TRUE )
- QDict ( const QDict<type> & dict )
- ~QDict ()
- QDict<type>& operator= ( const QDict<type> & dict )
- virtual uint count () const
- uint size () const
- bool isEmpty () const
- void insert ( const QString & key, const type * item )
- void replace ( const QString & key, const type * item )
- bool remove ( const QString & key )
- type* take ( const QString & key )
- type* find ( const QString & key ) const
- type* operator[] ( const QString & key ) const
- virtual void clear ()
- void resize ( uint newsize )
- void statistics () const

## Detailed Description

The QDict class is a template class that provides a dictionary based on `QString` keys.

QDict is implemented as a template class. Define a template instance QDict<X> to create a dictionary that operates on pointers to X, or X*.

A dictionary is a collection that associates an item with a key. The key is used for inserting and looking up an item. QDict has QString keys, which are Unicode strings. If you want to use non-Unicode, plain 8-bit `char*` keys, use the QAsciiDict template. A QDict has the same performace as a QAsciiDict.

The dictionary has very fast insertion and lookup.

Example:

        #include <qdict.h>
        #include <stdio.h>

        void main()
        {
          // Creates a dictionary that maps QString ==> char* (case insensitive)
            QDict<char> dict( 17, FALSE );

            dict.insert( "France", "Paris" );
            dict.insert( "Russia", "Moscow" );
            dict.insert( "Norway", "Oslo" );

            printf( "%s\n", dict["Norway"] );
            printf( "%s\n", dict["FRANCE"] );
            printf( "%s\n", dict["russia"] );

            if ( !dict["Italy"] )
                printf( "Italy not defined\n" );
        }

Program output:

            Oslo
            Paris
            Moscow
            Italy not defined

The dictionary in our example maps `QString` keys to `char*` items. Note that the mapping is case insensitive (specified in the constructor). QDict implements the [] operator to lookup an item.

QDict is implemented by QGDict as a hash array with a fixed number of entries. Each array entry points to a singly linked list of buckets, in which the dictionary items are stored.

When an item is inserted with a key, the key is converted (hashed) to an integer index into the hash array. The item is inserted before the first bucket in the list of buckets.

Looking up an item is normally very fast. The key is again hashed to an array index. Then QDict scans the list of buckets and returns the item found or null if the item was not found. You cannot insert null pointers into a dictionary.

The size of the hash array is very important. In order to get good performance, you should use a suitably large prime number. Suitable means equal to or larger than the maximum expected number of dictionary items.

Items with equal keys are allowed. When inserting two items with the same key, only the last inserted item will be visible (last in, first out) until it is removed.

Example:

        #include <qdict.h>
        #include <stdio.h>

        void main()
        {
          // Creates a dictionary that maps QString ==> char* (case sensitive)
            QDict<char> dict;

            dict.insert( "Germany", "Berlin" );
            dict.insert( "Germany", "Bonn" );

            printf( "%s\n", dict["Germany"] );
            dict.remove( "Germany" );       // Oct 3rd 1990
            printf( "%s\n", dict["Germany"] );
        }

Program output:

            Bonn
            Berlin

The QDictIterator class can traverse the dictionary contents, but only in an arbitrary order. Multiple iterators may independently traverse the same dictionary.

Calling setAutoDelete(TRUE) for a dictionary tells it to delete items that are removed . The default is to not delete items when they are removed.

When inserting an item into a dictionary, only the pointer is copied, not the item itself. This is called a shallow copy. It is possible to make the dictionary copy all of the item's data (known as a deep copy) when an item is inserted. insert() calls the virtual function QCollection::newItem() for the item to be inserted. Inherit a dictionary and reimplement it if you want deep copies.

When removing a dictionary item, the virtual function QCollection::deleteItem() is called. QDict's default implementation is to delete the item if auto-deletion is enabled.

See also QDictIterator, QAsciiDict, QIntDict, QPtrDict and Collection Classes

## Member Function Documentation

### QDict::QDict ( const QDict<type> & dict )

Constructs a copy of dict.

Each item in dict are inserted into this dictionary. Only the pointers are copied (shallow copy).

### QDict::QDict ( int size=17, bool caseSensitive=TRUE )

Constructs a dictionary with the following properties:

Arguments:

- size is the size of the internal hash array.
- caseSensitive specifies whether to use case sensitive lookup or not.

Setting size to a suitably large prime number (equal to or greater than the expected number of entries) makes the hash distribution better and hence the loopup faster.

Setting caseSensitive to TRUE will treat "abc" and "Abc" as different keys. Setting it to FALSE will make the dictionary ignore case. Case insensitive comparison includes the whole Unicode alphabeth.

### QDict::~QDict ()

Removes all items from the dictionary and destroys it. All iterators that access this dictionary will be reset.

See also setAutoDelete().

### void QDict::clear () `[virtual]`

Removes all items from the dictionary.

The removed items are deleted if auto-deletion is enabled.

All dictionary iterators that operate on dictionary are reset.

See also remove(), take() and setAutoDelete().

Reimplemented from QCollection.

### uint QDict::count () const `[virtual]`

Returns the number of items in the dictionary.

See also isEmpty().

Reimplemented from QCollection.

### type * QDict::find ( const QString & key ) const

Returns the item associated with key, or null if the key does not exist in the dictionary.

This function uses an internal hashing algorithm to optimize lookup.

If there are two or more items with equal keys, then the last inserted of these will be found.

Equivalent to the [] operator.

See also operator[]().

### void QDict::insert ( const QString & key, const type * item )

Inserts the key with the item into the dictionary.

The key does not have to be a unique dictionary key. If multiple items are inserted with the same key, only the last item will be visible.

Null items are not allowed.

See also replace().

### bool QDict::isEmpty () const

Returns TRUE if the dictionary is empty, i.e. count() == 0. Returns FALSE otherwise.

See also count().

### QDict<type> & QDict::operator= ( const QDict<type> & dict )

Assigns dict to this dictionary and returns a reference to this dictionary.

This dictionary is first cleared, then each item in dict is inserted into this dictionary. Only the pointers are copied (shallow copy), unless newItem() has been reimplemented().

### type * QDict::operator[] ( const QString & key ) const

Returns the item associated with key, or null if the key does not exist in the dictionary.

This function uses an internal hashing algorithm to optimize lookup.

If there are two or more items with equal keys, then the last inserted of these will be found.

Equivalent to the find() function.

See also find().

### bool QDict::remove ( const QString & key )

Removes the item associated with key from the dictionary. Returns TRUE if successful, or FALSE if the key does not exist in the dictionary.

If there are two or more items with equal keys, then the last inserted of these will be removed.

The removed item is deleted if auto-deletion is enabled.

All dictionary iterators that refer to the removed item will be set to point to the next item in the dictionary traversing order.

See also take(), clear() and setAutoDelete().

### void QDict::replace ( const QString & key, const type * item )

Replaces an item which has a key equal to key with item.

If the item does not already exist, it will be inserted.

Null items are not allowed.

Equivalent to:

        QDict<char> dict;
            ...
        if ( dict.find(key) )
            dict.remove( key );
        dict.insert( key, item );

If there are two or more items with equal keys, then the last inserted of these will be replaced.

See also insert().

### void QDict::resize ( uint newsize )

Changes the size of the hashtable the newsize. The contents of the dictionary are preserved, but all iterators on the dictionary become invalid.

### uint QDict::size () const

Returns the size of the internal hash array (as specified in the constructor).

See also count().

### void QDict::statistics () const

Debugging-only function that prints out the dictionary distribution using qDebug().

### type * QDict::take ( const QString & key )

Takes the item associated with key out of the dictionary without deleting it (even if auto-deletion is enabled).

If there are two or more items with equal keys, then the last inserted of these will be taken.

Returns a pointer to the item taken out, or null if the key does not exist in the dictionary.

All dictionary iterators that refer to the taken item will be set to point to the next item in the dictionary traversal order.

See also remove(), clear() and setAutoDelete().

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