Python Sets are unordered collections of unique elements. Learn about Set datatype in Python, creating and modifying Sets and other useful Set operations available.
1. What is Set
A Set in Python is:
- an unordered collection of unique hashable objects
- unindexed collection
- written with curly brackets or
set()constructor
# curly brackets
nameSet = {"alex", "brian", "charles"}
# set() constructor
nameSet = set(("alex", "brian", "charles"))
Internally, the Set is implemented using Dictionary. If we notice closely, the requirements for Set elements are the same as those for Dictionary keys.
Sets cannot store mutable items such as List or Dictionary. However, Sets can contain immutable collections such as Tuple or instances of ImmutableSet.
2. Get Values from Set
2.1. Iterate Set using for Loop
As Sets are unindexed collection, we cannot use index-based get operations and slicing operations. So, to get the values from a Set, we can loop through it using for loop.
nameSet = {"alex", "brian", "charles"}
for name in nameSet:
print(name)
Program output.
alex brian charles
2.2. Check Item Exists using in Clause
nameSet = {"alex", "brian", "charles"}
print("brian" in nameSet)
print("david" in nameSet)
Program output.
True False
3. Add Items in Sets
- To add a new item to the Set, use the
add()method. - To add more than one item to the Set, use the
update()method.
nameSet = {"alex", "brian", "charles"}
nameSet.add("david")
print(nameSet)
nameSet.update(["evan", "frank", "george"])
print(nameSet)
Program output.
{'alex', 'charles', 'brian', 'david'}
{'brian', 'alex', 'david', 'frank', 'george', 'charles', 'evan'}
4. Remove Items from Set
To remove a single item from the Set, we can use following methods:
- remove() : If the item to remove does not exist, it will raise an error.
- discard() : If the item to remove does not exist, it will NOT raise an error.
- pop() : This method will remove the last item in the Set, and removed item will be the return valve of the method call.
- clear() : It removes ann the items from the Set, and converts the set to an Empty Set.
- del keyword : It delete the Set completely.
nameSet = {"alex", "brian", "charles", "evan", "frank"}
nameSet.remove("frank")
print(nameSet)
nameSet.discard("evan")
print(nameSet)
name = nameSet.pop()
print(name)
print(nameSet)
nameSet.clear()
print(nameSet)
del nameSet
print(nameSet)
Program output.
{'evan', 'alex', 'charles', 'brian'}
{'alex', 'charles', 'brian'}
alex
{'charles', 'brian'}
set()
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<string>", line 17, in <module>
NameError: name 'nameSet' is not defined
5. Set Union – Join Two Sets
Use the union() method to join two or more sets in Python. This method returns a new Set containing all items from both Sets.
nameSet1 = {"alex", "brian", "charles"}
nameSet2 = {"evan", "frank"}
setUnion = nameSet1.union(nameSet2)
print(setUnion)
Program output.
{'charles', 'frank', 'alex', 'evan', 'brian'}
6. Python Set Methods
Python Set provides following built-in methods:
6.1. Python Set add()
The add() method adds an item to the Set.
nameSet = {"alex", "brian", "charles"}
nameSet.add("david")
print(nameSet)
Program output.
{'alex', 'brian', 'charles', 'david'}
6.2. Python Set clear()
The clear() method removes all the items from the Set, and make it empty Set.
nameSet = {"alex", "brian", "charles"}
nameSet.clear()
print(nameSet)
Program output.
set()
6.3. Python Set copy()
The copy() method returns a shallow copy of the Set.
nameSet = {"alex", "brian", "charles"}
copySet = nameSet.copy()
print(copySet)
Program output.
{'alex', 'brian', 'charles'}
6.4. Python Set difference()
The difference() method returns a Set containing the difference between two Sets.
nameSet1 = {"alex", "brian", "charles"}
nameSet2 = {"alex", "brian", "david"}
diffSet = nameSet1.difference(nameSet2)
print(diffSet)
Program output.
{'charles'}
6.5. Python Set difference_update()
The difference_update() method removes the items in given set that are also included in argument Set.
nameSet1 = {"alex", "brian", "charles"}
nameSet2 = {"alex", "brian", "david"}
nameSet1.difference_update(nameSet2)
print(nameSet1)
Program output.
{'charles'}
6.6. Python Set discard()
The discard() method removes the specified item from the Set.
nameSet = {"alex", "brian", "charles"}
nameSet.discard("charles")
print(nameSet)
Program output.
{'alex', 'brian'}
6.7. Python Set intersection()
The intersection() method returns a Set which is intersection of two given Sets. This method is opposite to the difference() method.
nameSet1 = {"alex", "brian", "charles"}
nameSet2 = {"alex", "brian", "david"}
diffSet = nameSet1.intersection(nameSet2)
print(diffSet)
Program output.
{'alex', 'brian'}
6.8. Python Set intersection_update()
The intersection_update() removes the items in the given Set that are not present in the argument Set. This method is opposite to the difference_update() method.
nameSet1 = {"alex", "brian", "charles"}
nameSet2 = {"alex", "brian", "david"}
nameSet1.intersection_update(nameSet2)
print(nameSet1)
Program output.
{'alex', 'brian'}
6.9. Python Set isdisjoint()
The isdisjoint() method checks if two Sets have an intersection or not. It returns True if none of the items are present in both Sets, otherwise it returns False.
nameSet1 = {"alex", "brian", "charles"}
nameSet2 = {"alex", "brian", "david"}
result = nameSet1.isdisjoint(nameSet2)
print(result)
Program output.
False
6.10. Python Set issubset()
The issubset() method checks whether argument Set contains this Set or not.
nameSet1 = {"alex", "brian"}
nameSet2 = {"alex", "brian", "charles"}
result = nameSet1.issubset(nameSet2)
print(result)
Program output.
True
6.11. Python Set issuperset()
The issuperset() method checks whether this Set contains argument Set or not.
nameSet1 = {"alex", "brian"}
nameSet2 = {"alex", "brian", "charles"}
result = nameSet1.issuperset(nameSet2)
print(result)
Program output.
False
6.12. Python Set pop()
The pop() method removes and returns the last items from the Set.
nameSet = {"alex", "brian", "charles"}
print(nameSet.pop())
print(nameSet)
Program output.
alex
{'charles', 'brian'}
6.13. Python Set remove()
The remove() method removes the specified from the Set.
nameSet = {"alex", "brian", "charles"}
nameSet.remove("alex")
print(nameSet)
Program output.
{'charles', 'brian'}
6.14. Python Set symmetric_difference()
The symmetric_difference() method return a Set that contains all items from both Sets, except items that are present in both Sets.
nameSet1 = {"alex", "brian", "charles"}
nameSet2 = {"alex", "brian", "david"}
result = nameSet1.symmetric_difference(nameSet2)
print(result)
Program output.
{'david', 'charles'}
6.15. Python Set symmetric_difference_update()
The symmetric_difference_update() method removes the items in this Set that are present in both Sets. It also inserts the items that are not present in both Sets.
.
nameSet1 = {"alex", "brian", "charles"}
nameSet2 = {"alex", "brian", "david"}
nameSet1.symmetric_difference_update(nameSet2)
print(nameSet1)
Program output.
{'david', 'charles'}
6.16. Python Set union()
The union() method return a Set containing the union of both Sets.
nameSet1 = {"alex", "brian", "charles"}
nameSet2 = {"alex", "brian", "david"}
result = nameSet1.union(nameSet2)
print(result)
Program output.
{'alex', 'brian', 'david', 'charles'}
6.17. Python Set update()
The update() method update the given Set with the union of this set and other Set.
nameSet1 = {"alex", "brian", "charles"}
nameSet2 = {"alex", "brian", "david"}
nameSet1.update(nameSet2)
print(nameSet1)
Program output.
{'alex', 'brian', 'david', 'charles'}
Happy Learning !!
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