Python
In this tutorial we will learn about set methods in Python.
In the previous tutorial Python - Set we learned about sets. Feel free to check that out.
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Alright, let's get started with set methods.
add
We use the add method to add new item to a given set.
In the following code we are adding a new item to the set.
# set mySet = {1, 2} # add mySet.add(3) # output print(mySet) # {1, 2, 3}
clear
We use the clear method to clear the items of a given set.
Note! The clear method only removes the items of the set.
In the following Python program we are clearing a given set.
# set mySet = {1, 2, 3} # clear mySet.clear() # output print(mySet) # set()
copy
We use the copy method to create a copy of a given set.
# set mySet = {1, 2, 3} # copy z = mySet.copy() # output print(z) # {1, 2, 3}
difference
We use the difference method to get all the items that exists in set x and not in set y.
x
y
Syntax:
z = x.difference(y)
In the following Python program we are finding the items that exists in set x and not in set y.
# sets x = {1, 2, 3} y = {2, 1, 4} # difference z = x.difference(y) # output print(z) # {3}
difference_update
We use the difference_update method to remove items from set x that also exists in set y.
In the following Python program we are removing items from set x that also exists in set y.
# sets x = {1, 2, 3} y = {2, 3} # difference update x.difference_update(y) # output print(x) # {1}
discard
We use the discard method to remove items from a given set.
If the item we want to discard does not exists in the given set then the discard method does not raises any error.
We can also remove items from the set using the remove method.
The remove method will raise error if the item to remove is not present in the set.
remove
In the following Python program we are removing 'mango' from the set of fruits.
# set fruits = {'apple', 'mango', 'orange', 'banana'} # discard fruits.discard('mango') # output print(fruits) # {'apple', 'banana', 'orange'}
intersection
We use the intersection method to get a new set that is an intersection of two sets.
In the following Python program we are finding the intersection of two given sets.
# sets x = {1, 2, 3} y = {2, 5} # intersection z = x.intersection(y) # output print(z) # {2}
intersection_update
We use the intersection_update method to remove the items from set x that are not present in set y.
In the following example we are removing items from set x that are not present in set y.
# sets x = {1, 2, 3} y = {2, 5} print("before x:", x) # intersection update z = x.intersection_update(y) # output print("after x:", x)
The above code will give us the following output.
before x: {1, 2, 3} after x: {2}
isdisjoint
We use the isdisjoint method to check if two sets are disjoint.
This will return True if no items of set x is present in set y. False otherwise.
True
False
In the following example we are checking whether x and y are disjoint sets.
# sets x = {1, 2, 3} y = {4, 5} print(x.isdisjoint(y)) # True
issubset
We use the issubset method to check if a given set is a subset of another set.
This will return True if all items of set x is present in set y. False otherwise.
# sets x = {1, 2, 3} y = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6} print(x.issubset(y)) # True
issuperset
We use the issuperset method to check if a given set is a superset of another set.
This will return True if all the items of set y is present in set x. False otherwise.
# sets x = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0} y = {3, 5, 7} print(x.issuperset(y)) # True
pop
We use the pop method to pop an item from the set.
Items are saved in an unordered fashion in a set so, the pop method can pop out any item from the set.
If you want to remove specific item with certainty then use discard or remove methods.
The pop method returns the popped item from the set. So, we can save it in a variable.
In the following Python program we are popping out items from the set.
# set x = set() print("set x:", x) # add x.add(2) print("after add:", x) x.add('Hello') print("after add:", x) x.add(True) print("after add:", x) x.add(3.14) print("after add:", x) # pop z = x.pop() print("removed item:", z) print("after pop:", x)
When you execute the above Python code you may get to see a similar result.
set x: set() after add: {2} after add: {'Hello', 2} after add: {'Hello', True, 2} after add: {'Hello', True, 2, 3.14} removed item: Hello after pop: {True, 2, 3.14}
Even though 3.14 was added before the pop method was called still we got 'Hello' as the popped item.
We use the remove method to remove specific item from the set.
If the item we are trying to remove is not present in the set then it raises an error.
If you want to avoid error then use discard method.
In the following Python program we are removing 3 from the set.
# set x = {1, 2, 3} print("before x:", x) # {1, 2, 3} # remove x.remove(3) print("after x:", x) # {1, 2}
symmetric_difference
We use the symmetric_difference method to get all the items from set x and set y that are not present in both the sets.
In the following Python program we are finding the items that are not present in both the given sets.
# set x = {1, 2, 3} y = {2, 3, 4} # symmetric difference z = x.symmetric_difference(y) print(z) # {1, 4}
Note! In set x we have item 1 that is not present in y. And in set y we have item 4 that is not present in x. So, 1 and 4 are selected.
Item 2 and 3 are present in both the sets so they are rejected.
symmetric_difference_update
We use the symmetric_difference_update method to remove the items from set x that is also present in set y and inserts those items that are not present in set x but present in set y.
In the following Python program we are removing items from set x that are also present in set y and inserting items in set x that are only present in set y.
# set x = {1, 2, 3} y = {2, 1, 4} # symmetric difference update x.symmetric_difference_update(y) print(x) # {3, 4}
Note! In the above code item 1 and 2 of set x is also present in set y. Hence they are removed from x.
Item 3 in set x is not present in set y so, it is retained. Similarly item 4 in set y is not present in set x so, it is added to set x.
union
We use the union method to get items from both the sets x and y and excluding the duplicate items.
In the following Python program we are finding the union of two sets.
# set x = {1, 2, 3} y = {2, 1, 4} # union z = x.union(y) print(z) # {1, 2, 3, 4}
update
We use the update method to add items in set x from another item. It is similar to the union of set x with set y.
In the following Python program we are updating set x.
# set x = {1, 2, 3} y = {2, 1, 4} # union x.update(y) print(x) # {1, 2, 3, 4}