Can you explain what the load factor parameter means in the HashMap data structure?

The load factor parameter in a HashMap data structure defines the ratio of the number of elements to the size of the internal array (buckets). It indicates how full the hash table is.

When the load factor reaches a certain threshold (e.g., 0.75), the HashMap increases the array size and rehashes the elements to maintain efficiency of insert and search operations.

For example, if the array size is 16 and the load factor is 0.75, then when the 12th element is added, the table will resize:

• Load factor = number of elements / array size
• 12 / 16 = 0.75

This helps avoid too many collisions and keeps HashMap operations fast.