Why does HashMap.java use transient for the collection of key and value?

I just took a look at source code of HashMap.java.

It uses the variable "table" to store the keys and values.

This vairalbe is transient, but any hashmap can be serialized and deserialized.

Could you please help me clarify how it could happen that the transient variable can be serialized?

[316 byte] By [zhangmia] at [2007-11-26 19:54:09]