[Tutor] hash

[Alan Gauld]

"linda.s" <samrobertsmith at gmail.com> wrote 

> what is the use of def __hash__(self)?
> I can not understand the document.
> any example? 

First, do you understand what a hash is? 
Do you want an example of writing a hash - see Andreas reply.
Or do you want to know when/how to use a hash?

As Andreas said the __hash__ method makes an object 
hashable in the same way that the other __xxx__ methods
modify the standard operations/behaviours of the object. 

Wikipedia has a good page on hash functions:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hash_%28computer_science%29

HTH,


-- 
Alan Gauld
Author of the Learn to Program web site
http://www.freenetpages.co.uk/hp/alan.gauld