Question

I am using hibernate and have bi-directional relations. How should I correctly override equals() for both classes.

Here is the code (using guava-Objects): (PS: This is a bad example and choice of entities, but I am interested in learning the recommended way to go about it)

Destination:

@Entity
@Table(name = "DESTINATION")
public class Destination{
    private Integer id;
    private String name;
    private Set<DestinationAlias> aliases = new HashSet<DestinationAlias>(0);


    @Override
    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
        if(obj == this) return true;

        if(obj instanceof Destination){
            final Destination otherDestination = (Destination) obj;
            return Objects.equal(getName().toUpperCase(), otherDestination.getName().toUpperCase()) 
                    && Objects.equal(getAliases(), otherDestination.getAliases());
        }
        return false;
    }
}

DestinationAlias:

@Entity
@Table(name = "DESTINATIONALIAS")
public final class DestinationAlias {
    private Integer idDestinationAlias;
    private String alias;   
    private Destination mainCity;

    @Override
    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
        if(obj == this) return true;

        if(obj instanceof DestinationAlias){
            final DestinationAlias otherAlias = (DestinationAlias) obj;
            return Objects.equal(getAlias().toUpperCase(), otherAlias.getAlias().toUpperCase())
                    && Objects.equal(getMainCity(), otherAlias.getMainCity());
        }
        return false;
    }
}

This is the test case:

@Test
public void testEqualsto(){
    Destination dest = new Destination("abc", 1.0f, 1.0f);
    dest.getAliases().add(new DestinationAlias("abc alias", dest));

    Destination dest1 = new Destination("abc", 1.0f, 1.0f);
    dest1.getAliases().add(new DestinationAlias("abc alias", dest1));

    assertEquals(dest, dest1);
}

As expected, stackoverflow occurs, since each equals() in turns calls the other equals() and a cycle occurs.

What is the recommended way to override equals() for bidirectional entities.

Answer 1

We have to deconflict manually. In DestinationAlias I’d change the equals expression so that it will compare the Destionation IDs only (they should be unique):

return Objects.equal(getAlias().toUpperCase(), otherAlias.getAlias().toUpperCase())
            && Objects.equal(getMainCity().getId(), otherAlias.getMainCity().getId());
                                          ^^^^^^^^                          ^^^^^^^^

Further Reading

• equals() method for classes with bidirectional association