The subject matter disclosed herein provides methods for inserting and retrieving value identifiers from a dictionary encoded database using hash maps. A first value identifier and a first value can be accessed from a dictionary storing one or more value identifiers and one or more values. Each value identifier can correspond to a different value. The hash map and the first value can be used to determine a first index in a bucket list for inserting the first value identifier. The bucket list can have one or more indices. Each index can store at least one value identifier. The hash map can include a vector of one or more pointers. Each pointer can refer to at least one of the indices. Based on the determining, the first value identifier can be inserted at the first index without inserting the first value. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.