Computes key.toHash() and spreads (XORs) higher bits of hash
to lower. Because the table uses power-of-two masking, sets of
hashes that vary only in bits above the current mask will
always collide. (Among known examples are sets of Float keys
holding consecutive whole numbers in small tables.) So we
apply a transform that spreads the impact of higher bits
downward. There is a tradeoff between speed, utility, and
quality of bit-spreading. Because many common sets of hashes
are already reasonably distributed (so don't benefit from
spreading), and because we use trees to handle large sets of
collisions in bins, we just XOR some shifted bits in the
cheapest possible way to reduce systematic lossage, as well as
to incorporate impact of the highest bits that would otherwise
never be used in index calculations because of table bounds.
Computes key.toHash() and spreads (XORs) higher bits of hash to lower. Because the table uses power-of-two masking, sets of hashes that vary only in bits above the current mask will always collide. (Among known examples are sets of Float keys holding consecutive whole numbers in small tables.) So we apply a transform that spreads the impact of higher bits downward. There is a tradeoff between speed, utility, and quality of bit-spreading. Because many common sets of hashes are already reasonably distributed (so don't benefit from spreading), and because we use trees to handle large sets of collisions in bins, we just XOR some shifted bits in the cheapest possible way to reduce systematic lossage, as well as to incorporate impact of the highest bits that would otherwise never be used in index calculations because of table bounds.