Data Modelling & AI Data Structure & Algorithm

Double Hashing

20 June 2025

2

Double hashing is a collision resolution technique used in hash tables. It works by using two hash functions to compute two different hash values for a given key. The first hash function is used to compute the initial hash value, and the second hash function is used to compute the step size for the probing sequence.

Double hashing has the ability to have a low collision rate, as it uses two hash functions to compute the hash value and the step size. This means that the probability of a collision occurring is lower than in other collision resolution techniques such as linear probing or quadratic probing.

However, double hashing has a few drawbacks. First, it requires the use of two hash functions, which can increase the computational complexity of the insertion and search operations. Second, it requires a good choice of hash functions to achieve good performance. If the hash functions are not well-designed, the collision rate may still be high.

Advantages of Double hashing

The advantage of Double hashing is that it is one of the best forms of probing, producing a uniform distribution of records throughout a hash table.
This technique does not yield any clusters.
It is one of the effective methods for resolving collisions.

Double hashing can be done using :
(hash1(key) + i * hash2(key)) % TABLE_SIZE
Here hash1() and hash2() are hash functions and TABLE_SIZE
is size of hash table.
(We repeat by increasing i when collision occurs)

Method 1: First hash function is typically hash1(key) = key % TABLE_SIZE
A popular second hash function is hash2(key) = PRIME – (key % PRIME) where PRIME is a prime smaller than the TABLE_SIZE.
A good second Hash function is:

It must never evaluate to zero
Just make sure that all cells can be probed

Below is the implementation of the above approach:

CPP

/*
** Handling of collision via open addressing
** Method for Probing: Double Hashing
*/
 
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>
#include <bitset>
using namespace std;
#define MAX_SIZE 10000001ll
 
class doubleHash {
 
    int TABLE_SIZE, keysPresent, PRIME;
    vector<int> hashTable;
    bitset<MAX_SIZE> isPrime;
 
    /* Function to set sieve of Eratosthenes. */
    void __setSieve(){
        isPrime[0] = isPrime[1] = 1;
        for(long long i = 2; i*i <= MAX_SIZE; i++)
            if(isPrime[i] == 0)
                for(long long j = i*i; j <= MAX_SIZE; j += i)
                    isPrime[j] = 1;
 
    }
 
    int inline hash1(int value){
        return value%TABLE_SIZE;
    }
     
    int inline hash2(int value){       
        return PRIME - (value%PRIME);
    }
 
    bool inline isFull(){
        return (TABLE_SIZE == keysPresent);
    }
 
    public: 
 
    doubleHash(int n){
        __setSieve();
        TABLE_SIZE = n;
 
        /* Find the largest prime number smaller than hash table's size. */
        PRIME = TABLE_SIZE - 1;
        while(isPrime[PRIME] == 1)
            PRIME--;
 
        keysPresent = 0;
 
        /* Fill the hash table with -1 (empty entries). */
        for(int i = 0; i < TABLE_SIZE; i++)
            hashTable.push_back(-1); 
    }
 
    void __printPrime(long long n){
        for(long long i = 0; i <= n; i++)
            if(isPrime[i] == 0)
                cout<<i<<", ";
        cout<<endl;
    }
 
    /* Function to insert value in hash table */
    void insert(int value){
 
        if(value == -1 || value == -2){
            cout<<("ERROR : -1 and -2 can't be inserted in the table\n");  
        }
 
        if(isFull()){
            cout<<("ERROR : Hash Table Full\n");
            return;
        }
         
        int probe = hash1(value), offset = hash2(value); // in linear probing offset = 1;
         
        while(hashTable[probe] != -1){
            if(-2 == hashTable[probe])                  
                break;                                  // insert at deleted element's location
            probe = (probe+offset) % TABLE_SIZE;
        }
 
        hashTable[probe] = value;
        keysPresent += 1;
    }
 
    void erase(int value){
        /* Return if element is not present */
        if(!search(value))
            return;     
         
        int probe = hash1(value), offset = hash2(value);
 
        while(hashTable[probe] != -1)
            if(hashTable[probe] == value){
                hashTable[probe] = -2;          // mark element as deleted (rather than unvisited(-1)).
                keysPresent--;
                return;
            }
            else
                probe = (probe + offset) % TABLE_SIZE; 
 
    }
 
    bool search(int value){
        int probe = hash1(value), offset = hash2(value), initialPos = probe;
        bool firstItr = true;
 
        while(1){
            if(hashTable[probe] == -1)                   // Stop search if -1 is encountered.
                break;
            else if(hashTable[probe] == value)           // Stop search after finding the element.
                return true;
            else if(probe == initialPos && !firstItr)    // Stop search if one complete traversal of hash table is completed.
                return false;
            else
                probe = ((probe + offset) % TABLE_SIZE);  // if none of the above cases occur then update the index and check at it.
 
            firstItr = false;
        }
        return false;
    }
 
    /* Function to display the hash table. */
    void print(){
        for(int i = 0; i < TABLE_SIZE; i++)
            cout<<hashTable[i]<<", ";
        cout<<"\n";
    }
 
};
 
int main(){
    doubleHash myHash(13); // creates an empty hash table of size 13
 
    /* Inserts random element in the hash table */
     
    int insertions[] = {115, 12, 87, 66, 123}, 
        n1 = sizeof(insertions)/sizeof(insertions[0]);
     
    for(int i = 0; i < n1; i++)
        myHash.insert(insertions[i]);
     
    cout<< "Status of hash table after initial insertions : "; myHash.print();
     
 
    /* 
    ** Searches for random element in the hash table,
    ** and prints them if found.
    */
     
    int queries[] = {1, 12, 2, 3, 69, 88, 115},
        n2 = sizeof(queries)/sizeof(queries[0]);
     
    cout<<"\n"<<"Search operation after insertion : \n";
 
    for(int i = 0; i < n2; i++)
        if(myHash.search(queries[i]))
            cout<<queries[i]<<" present\n";
     
 
    /* Deletes random element from the hash table. */
     
    int deletions[] = {123, 87, 66},
        n3 = sizeof(deletions)/sizeof(deletions[0]);
     
    for(int i = 0; i < n3; i++)
        myHash.erase(deletions[i]);
 
    cout<< "Status of hash table after deleting elements : "; myHash.print();
     
    return 0;
}

Python3

from typing import List
import math
 
MAX_SIZE = 10000001
 
class DoubleHash:
    def __init__(self, n: int):
        self.TABLE_SIZE = n
        self.PRIME = self.__get_largest_prime(n - 1)
        self.keysPresent = 0
        self.hashTable = [-1] * n
 
    def __get_largest_prime(self, limit: int) -> int:
        is_prime = [True] * (limit + 1)
        is_prime[0], is_prime[1] = False, False
        for i in range(2, int(math.sqrt(limit)) + 1):
            if is_prime[i]:
                for j in range(i * i, limit + 1, i):
                    is_prime[j] = False
        for i in range(limit, -1, -1):
            if is_prime[i]:
                return i
 
    def __hash1(self, value: int) -> int:
        return value % self.TABLE_SIZE
 
    def __hash2(self, value: int) -> int:
        return self.PRIME - (value % self.PRIME)
 
    def is_full(self) -> bool:
        return self.TABLE_SIZE == self.keysPresent
 
    def insert(self, value: int) -> None:
        if value == -1 or value == -2:
            print("ERROR : -1 and -2 can't be inserted in the table")
            return
        if self.is_full():
            print("ERROR : Hash Table Full")
            return
        probe, offset = self.__hash1(value), self.__hash2(value)
        while self.hashTable[probe] != -1:
            if -2 == self.hashTable[probe]:
                break
            probe = (probe + offset) % self.TABLE_SIZE
        self.hashTable[probe] = value
        self.keysPresent += 1
 
    def erase(self, value: int) -> None:
        if not self.search(value):
            return
        probe, offset = self.__hash1(value), self.__hash2(value)
        while self.hashTable[probe] != -1:
            if self.hashTable[probe] == value:
                self.hashTable[probe] = -2
                self.keysPresent -= 1
                return
            else:
                probe = (probe + offset) % self.TABLE_SIZE
 
    def search(self, value: int) -> bool:
        probe, offset, initialPos, firstItr = self.__hash1(value), self.__hash2(value), self.__hash1(value), True
        while True:
            if self.hashTable[probe] == -1:
                break
            elif self.hashTable[probe] == value:
                return True
            elif probe == initialPos and not firstItr:
                return False
            else:
                probe = (probe + offset) % self.TABLE_SIZE
            firstItr = False
        return False
 
    def print(self) -> None:
        print(*self.hashTable,sep=', ')
 
if __name__ == '__main__':
    myHash = DoubleHash(13)
 
    # Inserts random element in the hash table
    insertions = [115, 12, 87, 66, 123]
    for insertion in insertions:
        myHash.insert(insertion)
    print("Status of hash table after initial insertions : ", end="")
    myHash.print()
 
    # Searches for random element in the hash table, and prints them if found.
    queries = [1, 12, 2, 3, 69, 88, 115]
    n2 = len(queries)
    print("\nSearch operation after insertion : ")
     
    for i in range(n2):
        if myHash.search(queries[i]):
            print(queries[i], "present")
             
    # Deletes random element from the hash table.
    deletions = [123, 87, 66]
    n3 = len(deletions)
     
    for i in range(n3):
        myHash.erase(deletions[i])
         
    print("Status of hash table after deleting elements : ",end='')
    myHash.print()

C#

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
 
class doubleHash {
 
    int TABLE_SIZE, keysPresent, PRIME, MAX_SIZE = 10000001;
    List<int> hashTable;
    bool[] isPrime;
 
    /* Function to set sieve of Eratosthenes. */
    void __setSieve()
    {
        isPrime[0] = isPrime[1] = true;
        for (long i = 2; i * i <= MAX_SIZE; i++) {
            if (isPrime[i] == false) {
                for (long j = i * i; j <= MAX_SIZE;
                     j += i) {
                    isPrime[j] = true;
                }
            }
        }
    }
 
    int hash1(int value) { return value % TABLE_SIZE; }
 
    int hash2(int value) { return PRIME - (value % PRIME); }
 
    bool isFull() { return (TABLE_SIZE == keysPresent); }
 
    public doubleHash(int n)
    {
        isPrime = new bool[MAX_SIZE + 1];
        __setSieve();
        TABLE_SIZE = n;
 
        /* Find the largest prime number smaller than hash
         * table's size. */
        PRIME = TABLE_SIZE - 1;
        while (isPrime[PRIME] == true)
            PRIME--;
 
        keysPresent = 0;
        hashTable = new List<int>();
        /* Fill the hash table with -1 (empty entries). */
        for (int i = 0; i < TABLE_SIZE; i++)
            hashTable.Add(-1);
    }
 
    public void __printPrime(long n)
    {
        for (long i = 0; i <= n; i++)
            if (isPrime[i] == false)
                Console.Write(i + ", ");
        Console.WriteLine();
    }
 
    /* Function to insert value in hash table */
    public void insert(int value)
    {
 
        if (value == -1 || value == -2) {
            Console.Write(
                "ERROR : -1 and -2 can't be inserted in the table\n");
        }
 
        if (isFull()) {
            Console.Write("ERROR : Hash Table Full\n");
            return;
        }
 
        int probe = hash1(value),
            offset
            = hash2(value); // in linear probing offset = 1;
 
        while (hashTable[probe] != -1) {
            if (-2 == hashTable[probe])
                break; // insert at deleted element's
                       // location
            probe = (probe + offset) % TABLE_SIZE;
        }
 
        hashTable[probe] = value;
        keysPresent += 1;
    }
 
    public void erase(int value)
    {
        /* Return if element is not present */
        if (!search(value))
            return;
 
        int probe = hash1(value), offset = hash2(value);
 
        while (hashTable[probe] != -1)
            if (hashTable[probe] == value) {
                hashTable[probe]
                    = -2; // mark element as deleted (rather
                          // than unvisited(-1)).
                keysPresent--;
                return;
            }
            else
                probe = (probe + offset) % TABLE_SIZE;
    }
 
    public bool search(int value)
    {
        int probe = hash1(value), offset = hash2(value),
            initialPos = probe;
        bool firstItr = true;
 
        while (true) {
            if (hashTable[probe]
                == -1) // Stop search if -1 is encountered.
                break;
            else if (hashTable[probe]
                     == value) // Stop search after finding
                               // the element.
                return true;
            else if (probe == initialPos
                     && !firstItr) // Stop search if one
                                   // complete traversal of
                                   // hash table is
                                   // completed.
                return false;
            else
                probe = ((probe + offset)
                         % TABLE_SIZE); // if none of the
                                        // above cases occur
                                        // then update the
                                        // index and check
                                        // at it.
 
            firstItr = false;
        }
        return false;
    }
 
    /* Function to display the hash table. */
    public void print()
    {
        for (int i = 0; i < TABLE_SIZE; i++)
            Console.Write(hashTable[i] + ", ");
        Console.Write("\n");
    }
}
 
public class Program {
    static void Main()
    {
        doubleHash myHash = new doubleHash(
            13); // creates an empty hash table of size 13
 
        /* Inserts random element in the hash table */
 
        int[] insertions = { 115, 12, 87, 66, 123 };
        int n1 = insertions.Length;
 
        for (int i = 0; i < n1; i++)
            myHash.insert(insertions[i]);
 
        Console.Write(
            "Status of hash table after initial insertions : ");
        myHash.print();
 
        /*
        ** Searches for random element in the hash table,
        ** and prints them if found.
        */
 
        int[] queries = { 1, 12, 2, 3, 69, 88, 115 };
        int n2 = queries.Length;
 
        Console.Write(
            "\n"
            + "Search operation after insertion : \n");
 
        for (int i = 0; i < n2; i++)
            if (myHash.search(queries[i]))
                Console.Write(queries[i] + " present\n");
 
        /* Deletes random element from the hash table. */
 
        int[] deletions = { 123, 87, 66 };
        int n3 = deletions.Length;
 
        for (int i = 0; i < n3; i++)
            myHash.erase(deletions[i]);
 
        Console.Write(
            "Status of hash table after deleting elements : ");
        myHash.print();
    }
}

Javascript

// JS code
const MAX_SIZE = 10000001;
 
// Set sieve of Eratosthenes
let isPrime = new Array(MAX_SIZE).fill(0);
isPrime[0] = isPrime[1] = 1;
for (let i = 2; i * i <= MAX_SIZE; i++) {
  if (isPrime[i] === 0) {
    for (let j = i * i; j <= MAX_SIZE; j += i) {
      isPrime[j] = 1;
    }
  }
}
 
// Create DoubleHash Class
class DoubleHash {
  constructor(n) {
    this.TABLE_SIZE = n;
    this.PRIME = this.TABLE_SIZE - 1;
    while (isPrime[this.PRIME] === 1) {
      this.PRIME--;
    }
    this.keysPresent = 0;
    this.hashTable = new Array(this.TABLE_SIZE).fill(-1);
  }
  isFull(){
  return this.TABLE_SIZE==this.keysPresent;
  }
   hash1(value) {
    return value % this.TABLE_SIZE;
}
 
 hash2(value) {
    return this.PRIME - (value % this.PRIME);
}
 
  // Function to print prime numbers
  __printPrime(n) {
    for (let i = 0; i <= n; i++) {
      if (isPrime[i] === 0) {
        console.log(i + ", ");
      }
    }
    console.log("\n");
  }
 
  // Function to insert value in hash table
  insert(value) {
    if (value === -1 || value === -2) {
      console.log("ERROR : -1 and -2 can't be inserted in the table\n");
    }
    if (this.isFull()) {
      console.log("ERROR : Hash Table Full\n");
      return;
    }
    let probe = this.hash1(value),
      offset = this.hash2(value); // in linear probing offset = 1;
 
    while (this.hashTable[probe] !== -1) {
      if (-2 === this.hashTable[probe]) break; // insert at deleted element's location
      probe = (probe + offset) % this.TABLE_SIZE;
    }
 
    this.hashTable[probe] = value;
    this.keysPresent += 1;
  }
 
  erase(value) {
    // Return if element is not present
    if (!this.search(value)) return;
 
    let probe = this.hash1(value),
      offset = this.hash2(value);
 
    while (this.hashTable[probe] !== -1) {
      if (this.hashTable[probe] === value) {
        this.hashTable[probe] = -2; // mark element as deleted (rather than unvisited(-1)).
        this.keysPresent--;
        return;
      } else {
        probe = (probe + offset) % this.TABLE_SIZE;
      }
    }
  }
 
  search(value) {
    let probe = this.hash1(value),
      offset = this.hash2(value),
      initialPos = probe;
    let firstItr = true;
 
    while (1) {
      if (this.hashTable[probe] === -1) break; // Stop search if -1 is encountered.
      else if (this.hashTable[probe] === value) return true; // Stop search after finding the element.
      else if (probe === initialPos && !firstItr)
        return false; // Stop search if one complete traversal of hash table is completed.
      else probe = (probe + offset) % this.TABLE_SIZE; // if none of the above cases occur then update the index and check at it.
      firstItr = false;
    }
    return false;
  }
 
  // Function to display the hash table.
  print() {
    for (let i = 0; i < this.TABLE_SIZE; i++) console.log(this.hashTable[i] + ", ");
    console.log("\n");
  }
}
 
// Main function
function main() {
  let myHash = new DoubleHash(13); // creates an empty hash table of size 13
 
  // Inserts random element in the hash table
  let insertions = [115, 12, 87, 66, 123],
    n1 = insertions.length;
 
  for (let i = 0; i < n1; i++) myHash.insert(insertions[i]);
 
  console.log("Status of hash table after initial insertions : ");
  myHash.print();
 
  // Searches for random element in the hash table, and prints them if found.
  let queries = [1, 12, 2, 3, 69, 88, 115],
    n2 = queries.length;
 
  console.log("\n" + "Search operation after insertion : \n");
 
  for (let i = 0; i < n2; i++)
    if (myHash.search(queries[i])) console.log(queries[i] + " present\n");
 
  // Deletes random element from the hash table.
  let deletions = [123, 87, 66],
    n3 = deletions.length;
 
  for (let i = 0; i < n3; i++) myHash.erase(deletions[i]);
 
  console.log("Status of hash table after deleting elements : ");
  myHash.print();
 
  return 0;
}
 
main();
 
// This code is contributed by ishankhandelwals.

Output

Status of hash table after initial insertions : -1, 66, -1, -1, -1, -1, 123, -1, -1, 87, -1, 115, 12, 

Search operation after insertion : 
12 present
115 present
Status of hash table after deleting elements : -1, -2, -1, -1, -1, -1, -2, -1, -1, -2, -1, 115, 12,

Time Complexity:

Insertion: O(n)
Search: O(n)
Deletion: O(n)

Auxiliary Space: O(size of the hash table).

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