Skip to content

Set Operations

Zero-dependency Python snippets for performing set operations using the standard library.

5 snippets available in this sub-category.

Simple

Union of sets

set union combine data-structures

Combine all unique elements from both sets

set_a = {1, 2, 3}
set_b = {3, 4, 5}
union = set_a | set_b
print(union)  # {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

# Or using union() method
union2 = set_a.union(set_b)
print(union2)  # {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

Notes

  • The | operator or union() method can be used
  • Removes duplicates automatically

Intersection of sets

set intersection common data-structures

Find common elements between sets

set_a = {1, 2, 3}
set_b = {2, 3, 4}
intersection = set_a & set_b
print(intersection)  # {2, 3}

# Or using intersection() method
intersection2 = set_a.intersection(set_b)
print(intersection2)  # {2, 3}

Notes

  • The & operator or intersection() method can be used

Difference of sets

set difference subtract data-structures

Elements in set_a but not in set_b

set_a = {1, 2, 3, 4}
set_b = {3, 4, 5}
difference = set_a - set_b
print(difference)  # {1, 2}

# Or using difference() method
difference2 = set_a.difference(set_b)
print(difference2)  # {1, 2}

Notes

  • The - operator or difference() method can be used

Symmetric difference of sets

set symmetric-difference xor data-structures

Elements in either set, but not both

set_a = {1, 2, 3}
set_b = {2, 3, 4}
sym_diff = set_a ^ set_b
print(sym_diff)  # {1, 4}

# Or using symmetric_difference() method
sym_diff2 = set_a.symmetric_difference(set_b)
print(sym_diff2)  # {1, 4}

Notes

  • The ^ operator or symmetric_difference() method can be used

Complex

Multiple set operations

set multiple chain data-structures

Combine multiple sets with chained operations

set_a = {1, 2, 3, 4}
set_b = {3, 4, 5, 6}
set_c = {4, 5, 6, 7}

# Union of three sets
all_union = set_a | set_b | set_c
print(all_union)  # {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7}

# Intersection of three sets
all_intersection = set_a & set_b & set_c
print(all_intersection)  # {4}

# Difference chain
diff_chain = set_a - set_b - set_c
print(diff_chain)  # {1, 2}

Notes

  • Operators can be chained for multiple sets
  • Useful for complex set logic

🔗 Cross Reference

🏷️ Tags

set, union, intersection, difference, symmetric-difference, operations, data-structures

📝 Notes

  • Use set operators or methods for all standard set operations
  • Chaining is possible for multiple sets