LWW Element Set
A
package com.thealgorithms.datastructures.crdt;
import java.time.Instant;
import java.util.HashMap;
import java.util.Map;
/**
* Last-Write-Wins Element Set (LWWElementSet) is a state-based CRDT (Conflict-free Replicated Data
* Type) designed for managing sets in a distributed and concurrent environment. It supports the
* addition and removal of elements, using timestamps to determine the order of operations. The set
* is split into two subsets: the add set for elements to be added and the remove set for elements
* to be removed. The LWWElementSet ensures that the most recent operation (based on the timestamp)
* wins in the case of concurrent operations.
*
* @param <T> The type of the elements in the LWWElementSet.
* @author <a href="https://github.com/itakurah">itakurah (GitHub)</a>, <a
* href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/niklashoefflin/">Niklas Hoefflin (LinkedIn)</a>
* @see <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conflict-free_replicated_data_type">Conflict free
* replicated data type (Wikipedia)</a>
* @see <a href="https://inria.hal.science/inria-00555588v1/document">A comprehensive study of
* Convergent and Commutative Replicated Data Types</a>
*/
class LWWElementSet<T> {
final Map<T, Element<T>> addSet;
final Map<T, Element<T>> removeSet;
/**
* Constructs an empty LWWElementSet. This constructor initializes the addSet and removeSet as
* empty HashMaps. The addSet stores elements that are added, and the removeSet stores elements
* that are removed.
*/
LWWElementSet() {
this.addSet = new HashMap<>();
this.removeSet = new HashMap<>();
}
/**
* Adds an element to the addSet with the current timestamp. This method stores the element in the
* addSet, ensuring that the element is added to the set with an associated timestamp that
* represents the time of the addition.
*
* @param key The key of the element to be added.
*/
public void add(T key) {
addSet.put(key, new Element<>(key, Instant.now()));
}
/**
* Removes an element by adding it to the removeSet with the current timestamp. This method adds
* the element to the removeSet, marking it as removed with the current timestamp.
*
* @param key The key of the element to be removed.
*/
public void remove(T key) {
removeSet.put(key, new Element<>(key, Instant.now()));
}
/**
* Checks if an element is in the LWWElementSet. An element is considered present if it exists in
* the addSet and either does not exist in the removeSet, or its add timestamp is later than any
* corresponding remove timestamp.
*
* @param key The key of the element to be checked.
* @return {@code true} if the element is present in the set (i.e., its add timestamp is later
* than its remove timestamp, or it is not in the remove set), {@code false} otherwise (i.e.,
* the element has been removed or its remove timestamp is later than its add timestamp).
*/
public boolean lookup(T key) {
Element<T> inAddSet = addSet.get(key);
Element<T> inRemoveSet = removeSet.get(key);
return inAddSet != null && (inRemoveSet == null || inAddSet.timestamp.isAfter(inRemoveSet.timestamp));
}
/**
* Merges another LWWElementSet into this set. This method takes the union of both the add-sets
* and remove-sets from the two sets, resolving conflicts by keeping the element with the latest
* timestamp. If an element appears in both the add-set and remove-set of both sets, the one with
* the later timestamp will be retained.
*
* @param other The LWWElementSet to merge with the current set.
*/
public void merge(LWWElementSet<T> other) {
for (Map.Entry<T, Element<T>> entry : other.addSet.entrySet()) {
addSet.merge(entry.getKey(), entry.getValue(), this::resolveConflict);
}
for (Map.Entry<T, Element<T>> entry : other.removeSet.entrySet()) {
removeSet.merge(entry.getKey(), entry.getValue(), this::resolveConflict);
}
}
/**
* Resolves conflicts between two elements by selecting the one with the later timestamp. This
* method is used when merging two LWWElementSets to ensure that the most recent operation (based
* on timestamps) is kept.
*
* @param e1 The first element.
* @param e2 The second element.
* @return The element with the later timestamp.
*/
private Element<T> resolveConflict(Element<T> e1, Element<T> e2) {
return e1.timestamp.isAfter(e2.timestamp) ? e1 : e2;
}
}
/**
* Represents an element in the LWWElementSet, consisting of a key and a timestamp. This class is
* used to store the elements in both the add and remove sets with their respective timestamps.
*
* @param <T> The type of the key associated with the element.
*/
class Element<T> {
T key;
Instant timestamp;
/**
* Constructs a new Element with the specified key and timestamp.
*
* @param key The key of the element.
* @param timestamp The timestamp associated with the element.
*/
Element(T key, Instant timestamp) {
this.key = key;
this.timestamp = timestamp;
}
}