Friday, February 6, 2026
HomeLanguagesJavaWeakHashMap put() Method in Java

WeakHashMap put() Method in Java

The java.util.WeakHashMap.put() method of WeakHashMap is used to insert a mapping into a map. This means we can insert a specific key and the value it is mapping, into a particular map. If an existing key is passed then the previous value gets replaced by the new value. If a new pair is passed, then the pair gets inserted as a whole.

Syntax:

Weak_Hash_Map.put(key, value)

Parameters: The method takes two parameters, both are of the Object type of the WeakHashMap.

  • key: This refers to the key element that needs to be inserted into the Map for mapping.
  • value: This refers to the value that the above key would map into.

Return Value: If an existing key is passed then the previous value gets returned. If a new pair is passed, then NULL is returned.

Below programs are used to illustrate the working of java.util.WeakHashMap.put() Method:
Program 1: When passing an existing key.




// Java code to illustrate the put() method
import java.util.*;
  
public class Weak_Hash_Map_Demo {
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
  
        // Creating an empty WeakHashMap
        Map<Integer, String> weak_hash = new 
                  WeakHashMap<Integer, String>();
  
        // Mapping string values to int keys
        weak_hash.put(10, "Geeks");
        weak_hash.put(15, "4");
        weak_hash.put(20, "Geeks");
        weak_hash.put(25, "Welcomes");
        weak_hash.put(30, "You");
  
        // Displaying the WeakHashMap
        System.out.println("Initial Mappings are: "
                                           weak_hash);
  
        // Inserting existing key along with new value
        String returned_value = 
                     (String)weak_hash.put(20, "All");
  
        // Verifying the returned value
        System.out.println("Returned value is: "
                                   returned_value);
  
        // Displayin the new map
        System.out.println("New map is: " + weak_hash);
    }
}


Output:

Initial Mappings are: {30=You, 15=4, 10=Geeks, 25=Welcomes, 20=Geeks}
Returned value is: Geeks
New map is: {30=You, 15=4, 10=Geeks, 25=Welcomes, 20=All}

Program 2: When passing a new key.




// Java code to illustrate the put() method
import java.util.*;
  
public class Weak_Hash_Map_Demo {
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
  
        // Creating an empty WeakHashMap
        Map<Integer, String> weak_hash = new 
                 WeakHashMap<Integer, String>();
  
        // Mapping string values to int keys
        weak_hash.put(10, "Geeks");
        weak_hash.put(15, "4");
        weak_hash.put(20, "Geeks");
        weak_hash.put(25, "Welcomes");
        weak_hash.put(30, "You");
  
        // Displaying the WeakHashMap
        System.out.println("Initial Mappings are: "
                                          weak_hash);
  
        // Inserting existing key along with new value
        String returned_value = 
                      (String)weak_hash.put(50, "All");
  
        // Verifying the returned value
        System.out.println("Returned value is: "
                                      returned_value);
  
        // Displayin the new map
        System.out.println("New map is: " + weak_hash);
    }
}


Output:

Initial Mappings are: {30=You, 15=4, 10=Geeks, 25=Welcomes, 20=Geeks}
Returned value is: null
New map is: {30=You, 15=4, 10=Geeks, 25=Welcomes, 20=Geeks, 50=All}

Note: The same operation can be performed with any type of Mappings with variation and combination of different data types.

RELATED ARTICLES

1 COMMENT

Most Popular

Dominic
32491 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Milvus
126 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Nango Kala
6862 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Nicole Veronica
11986 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Nokonwaba Nkukhwana
12075 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Shaida Kate Naidoo
6995 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Ted Musemwa
7236 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Thapelo Manthata
6946 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Umr Jansen
6931 POSTS0 COMMENTS