How to use string hash function

Let me rephrase that, then:
Don't mod the hashvalue unless you want to destroy the uniqueness distribution of the has function, or if it is acceptable to do so, or you have no other choice.

Originally Posted by Elysia

Let me rephrase that, then:
Don't mod the hashvalue unless you want to destroy the uniqueness distribution of the has function, or if it is acceptable to do so, or you have no other choice.

Of course you mod (or mask) the hash value, that's what you do when implementing a hash table. What next, don't use a screwdriver to screw in a screw?!

Not everyone has > 4GB spare for an array of pointers!

Originally Posted by monkey_c_monkey

Now it compiles, but it still outputs a large value like 205991382. I did manually use standard c++0x so: g++ -std=c++0x -o hash_tables hash_tables.cpp.

That's normal, now you need to do mod size_1 as you thought earlier.

The parameters to use are corrrect according to the official site @ http://www.isthe.com/chongo/tech/comp/fnv/

That's because that site's example is for old C code, but you are using C++. Adding the const was the correct thing to do to port it to modern C++.

... I'll look around for other string hash functions and try to resolve this...

That's not necessary. FNV-1a is very good, and the problem was with how you were trying to use it. Any other hashing function will behave the same, and if you can't use this one right, you wont be able to use any other right either.