There is a difference between hashCode() and identityHashCode() returns. It is possible that for two unequal (tested with ==) objects o1, o2 hashCode() can be the same. See the example below how this is true.
class SeeDifferences
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
String s1 = "stackoverflow";
String s2 = new String("stackoverflow");
String s3 = "stackoverflow";
System.out.println(s1.hashCode());
System.out.println(s2.hashCode());
System.out.println(s3.hashCode());
System.out.println(System.identityHashCode(s1));
System.out.println(System.identityHashCode(s2));
System.out.println(System.identityHashCode(s3));
if (s1 == s2)
{
System.out.println("s1 and s2 equal");
}
else
{
System.out.println("s1 and s2 not equal");
}
if (s1 == s3)
{
System.out.println("s1 and s3 equal");
}
else
{
System.out.println("s1 and s3 not equal");
}
}
}