according to [java spec](http://docs.oracle.com/javase/6/docs/api/java/util/HashSet.html#add(E)): add method in HashSet implementation: > public boolean add(E e) > > Adds the specified element to this set if it is not already present. > More formally, adds the specified element e to this set if this set > contains no element e2 such that (e==null ? e2==null : e.equals(e2)). > If this set already contains the element, the call leaves the set > unchanged and returns false.