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Set

A set in Python is an unordered collection of unique elements that can be used to perform mathematical operations like union, intersection, and difference. Sets can be created using curly braces or the set() constructor. Elements can be added and removed using methods like add(), remove(), and discard(). Sets support operations like union, intersection, difference, and symmetric difference. Membership and subset/superset tests are also supported. Sets are useful for eliminating duplicates and fast membership testing.

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14 views

Set

A set in Python is an unordered collection of unique elements that can be used to perform mathematical operations like union, intersection, and difference. Sets can be created using curly braces or the set() constructor. Elements can be added and removed using methods like add(), remove(), and discard(). Sets support operations like union, intersection, difference, and symmetric difference. Membership and subset/superset tests are also supported. Sets are useful for eliminating duplicates and fast membership testing.

Uploaded by

caoimhe
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SET

In Python programming, a set is an unordered collection of unique elements. Sets


are widely used for performing mathematical set operations such as union,
intersection, and difference. The elements in a set must be immutable (e.g.,
numbers, strings, or tuples) since mutable elements like lists cannot be stored in
a set. This guide will cover various aspects of sets in Python, including creating
and initializing sets, adding and removing elements, set operations, membership
tests, converting lists to sets, and common use cases for sets.

Creating and Initializing Sets


Sets can be created and initialized using curly braces { } or the set()
constructor. Here's how:

Method 1: Using Curly Braces


1 # Creating a set using curly braces
2 my_set = {1, 2, 3, 4}
Method 2: Using the set() Constructor
1 # Creating a set using the set() constructor
2 my_set = set([1, 2, 3, 4])
Adding Elements to a Set
You can add elements to a set using the add() method to add a single element or the
update() method to add multiple elements.

Using add()
1 my_set = {1, 2, 3}
2 my_set.add(4)
Using update()
1 my_set = {1, 2, 3}
2 my_set.update([3, 4, 5])
Removing Elements from a Set
To remove elements from a set, you can use the remove(), discard(), or pop()
methods.

Using remove()
1 my_set = {1, 2, 3, 4}
2 my_set.remove(3)
Using discard()
1 my_set = {1, 2, 3, 4}
2 my_set.discard(5) # No error if element not present
Using pop()
1 my_set = {1, 2, 3, 4}
2 popped_element = my_set.pop() # Removes and returns an arbitrary element
Set Operations
Sets support various mathematical operations like union, intersection, difference,
and symmetric difference.

Union
1 set1 = {1, 2, 3}
2 set2 = {3, 4, 5}
3 union_set = set1.union(set2)
4 # or simply
5 union_set = set1 | set2
Intersection
1 set1 = {1, 2, 3}
2 set2 = {3, 4, 5}
3 intersection_set = set1.intersection(set2)
4 # or simply
5 intersection_set = set1 & set2
Difference
1 set1 = {1, 2, 3}
2 set2 = {3, 4, 5}
3 difference_set = set1.difference(set2)
4 # or simply
5 difference_set = set1 - set2
Symmetric Difference
1 set1 = {1, 2, 3}
2 set2 = {3, 4, 5}
3 symmetric_difference_set = set1.symmetric_difference(set2)
4 # or simply
5 symmetric_difference_set = set1 ^ set2
Set Membership Test and Subset/Superset Test
You can check if an element exists in a set using the in keyword. To test if a set
is a subset or superset of another, use the issubset() and issuperset() methods,
respectively.

Code

script.py
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my_set = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

print(3 in my_set) # Output: True


print(6 in my_set) # Output: False

set1 = {1, 2}
set2 = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

print(set1.issubset(set2)) # Output: True


print(set2.issuperset(set1)) # Output: True

Execute code
Converting Lists to Sets and Sets to Lists
You can convert a list to a set and vice versa using the set() and list()
functions.

Code

script.py
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# Converting a list to a set
my_list = [1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5]
my_set = set(my_list)

# Converting a set to a list


my_set = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
my_list = list(my_set)

Execute code
Common Use Cases for Sets
Sets are widely used in various scenarios, including:

Eliminating Duplicates: Since sets only store unique elements, you can use them to
remove duplicates from a list.
Membership Testing: Sets provide fast membership tests, making it efficient to
check if an element exists in a collection.
Finding Common Elements: Set intersection can be used to find common elements
between multiple sets.
Conclusion
Sets are a powerful data structure in Python that provide unique element storage
and support efficient mathematical set operations. They are versatile and find
applications in a wide range of scenarios, from data processing to set-based
computations. Understanding sets and their operations can significantly improve the
efficiency and readability of your Python code.

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