In the HashMap vs. Hashtable debate there is one clear winner. If you are confronted with a choice between the two Java maps, the HashMap is the right collection class to use.

Generics in Java programming Why use generics? How to use generics for type safety Generics in the Java Collections Framework Examples of generic types in Java Raw types vs. generics Why use generics?

Using generics results in more robust code and avoids ClassCastExceptions in your Java programs. This in-depth tutorial introduces you to generics and their types and methods.