> the same input always gives the same hash value, so you can retrieve your item just fine
You’ll retrieve a bunch of items that hash to the same value, so not exactly. You can retrieve the set of items that have the same hash as your item just fine - which is not exactly the same.
> A hash _map_ is not a hash _function_.
This is more or less what I was getting at. I know hash functions aren’t bijective, but hashmaps are often used as if they are. I guess I’m not sure if LSHs refer to a family of functions or hashmaps, and I guess the word hashes often implies functions - my bad.
You’ll retrieve a bunch of items that hash to the same value, so not exactly. You can retrieve the set of items that have the same hash as your item just fine - which is not exactly the same.
> A hash _map_ is not a hash _function_.
This is more or less what I was getting at. I know hash functions aren’t bijective, but hashmaps are often used as if they are. I guess I’m not sure if LSHs refer to a family of functions or hashmaps, and I guess the word hashes often implies functions - my bad.