Python Set Operators
In Python, sets are unordered collections of unique elements. They are widely used for performing various operations such as finding intersections, unions, differences, and symmetric differences between sets. Python provides several set operators to simplify these operations and manipulate sets effectively.
1. Union Operator (|)
The union operator combines two sets and returns a new set containing all the unique elements from both sets. It is represented by the pipe symbol (|).
For example:
set1 = {1, 2, 3}
set2 = {3, 4, 5}
union_set = set1 | set2
print(union_set)
The output will be:
{1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
2. Intersection Operator (&)
The intersection operator returns a new set containing the common elements between two sets. It is represented by the ampersand symbol (&).
For example:
set1 = {1, 2, 3}
set2 = {3, 4, 5}
intersection_set = set1 & set2
print(intersection_set)
The output will be:
{3}
3. Difference Operator (-)
The difference operator returns a new set containing the elements that are present in the first set but not in the second set. It is represented by the minus symbol (-).
For example:
set1 = {1, 2, 3}
set2 = {3, 4, 5}
difference_set = set1 - set2
print(difference_set)
The output will be:
{1, 2}
4. Symmetric Difference Operator (^)
The symmetric difference operator returns a new set containing the elements that are present in either of the sets, but not in both. It is represented by the caret symbol (^).
For example:
set1 = {1, 2, 3}
set2 = {3, 4, 5}
symmetric_difference_set = set1 ^ set2
print(symmetric_difference_set)
The output will be:
{1, 2, 4, 5}
5. Subset Operator (<=)
The subset operator checks if the first set is a subset of the second set. It returns True if all the elements of the first set are present in the second set, otherwise it returns False. It is represented by the less than or equal to symbol (<=).
For example:
set1 = {1, 2}
set2 = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
is_subset = set1 <= set2
print(is_subset)
The output will be:
True
6. Superset Operator (>=)
The superset operator checks if the first set is a superset of the second set. It returns True if all the elements of the second set are present in the first set, otherwise it returns False. It is represented by the greater than or equal to symbol (>=).
For example:
set1 = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
set2 = {1, 2}
is_superset = set1 >= set2
print(is_superset)
The output will be:
True
Conclusion
Python set operators provide a convenient way to perform various operations on sets. Whether you need to combine sets, find common elements, or identify differences, these operators simplify the process and help you manipulate sets efficiently. By understanding and utilizing these operators, you can harness the power of sets in your Python programs.