In the Java Collections Framework (JCF), the Properties class extends ________? a. HashMap b. Hashtable c. TreeMap d. HashSet

Break Down the Problem

1. Identify the class in the Java Collections Framework being questioned: Properties.
2. Determine which class it extends from among the given options: HashMap, Hashtable, TreeMap, HashSet.

Relevant Concepts

3. Understand that the Properties class is a subclass of Hashtable, specifically created to maintain a set of properties for configuration, typically in key-value pair format.

Analysis and Detail

4. The Properties class provides methods to manage both string-based keys and values, which is a characteristic feature of Hashtable.

Verify and Summarize

5. Cross-check the functionalities and the class hierarchy in the Java documentation to confirm that Properties indeed extends Hashtable.

Final Answer

The Properties class extends b. Hashtable.