Sets in Python
In Python, a Set is an unordered collection of data items that are unique. In other
words, Python Set is a collection of elements (Or objects) that contains no duplicate
elements.
Unlike List, Python Set doesn’t maintain the order of elements, i.e., It is an unordered
data set. So we cannot access elements by their index or perform insert operation
using an index number.
The three characteristics of a set are unordered, unchangeable and unique
Creating a Set
There are following two ways to create a set in Python.
• Using curly brackets: The easiest and straightforward way of creating a Set is by just
enclosing all the data items inside the curly brackets {}. The individual values are
comma-separated.
• Using set() constructor: The set object is of type class 'set'. So we can create a set by
calling the constructor of class ‘set’.
Let’s see each one of them with an example.
Create a set from a list
Also, set eliminating duplicate entries so if you try to create a set with duplicate items it will
store an item only once and delete all duplicate items. Let’s create a set from an iterable like a
list .We generally use this approach when we wanted to remove duplicate items from a list.
Add Items
Once a set is created, you cannot change its items, but you can add new
items.
To add one item to a set use the add() method.
Example
Add an item to a set, using the add() method:
thisset = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
[Link]("orange")
print(thisset)
Add Sets
To add items from another set into the current set, use
the update() method.
Example
Add elements from tropical into thisset:
thisset = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
tropical = {"pineapple", "mango", "papaya"}
[Link](tropical)
print(thisset)
Add Any Iterable
The object in the update() method does not have to be a set, it can be any
iterable object (tuples, lists, dictionaries etc.).
Example
Add elements of a list to at set:
thisset = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
mylist = ["kiwi", "orange"]
[Link](mylist)
print(thisset)
oin Two Sets
There are several ways to join two or more sets in Python.
You can use the union() method that returns a new set containing all items
from both sets, or the update() method that inserts all the items from one
set into another:
Example
The union() method returns a new set with all items from both sets:
set1 = {"a", "b" , "c"}
set2 = {1, 2, 3}
set3 = [Link](set2)
print(set3)
Example
The update() method inserts the items in set2 into set1:
set1 = {"a", "b" , "c"}
set2 = {1, 2, 3}
[Link](set2)
print(set1)
Note: Both union() and update() will exclude any duplicate items.
Keep ONLY the Duplicates
The intersection_update() method will keep only the items that are present
in both sets.
Example
Keep the items that exist in both set x, and set y:
x = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
y = {"google", "microsoft", "apple"}
x.intersection_update(y)
print(x)
The intersection() method will return a new set, that only contains the
items that are present in both sets.
Example
Return a set that contains the items that exist in both set x, and set y:
x = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
y = {"google", "microsoft", "apple"}
z = [Link](y)
print(z)
Keep All, But NOT the Duplicates
The symmetric_difference_update() method will keep only the elements
that are NOT present in both sets.
Example
Keep the items that are not present in both sets:
x = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
y = {"google", "microsoft", "apple"}
x.symmetric_difference_update(y)
print(x)
The symmetric_difference() method will return a new set, that contains
only the elements that are NOT present in both sets.
Example
Return a set that contains all items from both sets, except items that are
present in both:
x = {"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
y = {"google", "microsoft", "apple"}
z = x.symmetric_difference(y)
print(z)