Set symmetric_difference() in Python

Syntax of Symmetric Difference() Function

The syntax of symmetric difference in python is as below:

SetA.symmetric_difference(SetB)

Where SetA and SetB are the two sets of which we want symmetric difference. Let’s understand it with the help of examples.

Parameters of symmetric_difference() in Python

The symmetric_difference() method takes one parameter, which is another set. It can also accept any iterable containing elements to compare with the original set, allowing flexibility in defining the second set for comparison.

Return Value of symmetric_difference() in Python

The symmetric_difference() method returns a new set containing elements that are unique to each of the two sets. It excludes elements that are common to both sets, providing a clear distinction between them.

Example of symmetric_difference() in Python

Example 1:

Code

SetA = {1,2,3,4}
SetB = {1,2,5,6}

print("SetA: ", SetA,"\n")
print("SetB: ", SetB,"\n")

symmetricDiff = SetA.symmetric_difference(SetB)
print('The symm diff between A and B is=', symmetricDiff)

You can also try this code with Online Python Compiler

Run Code

Output

SetA = {1,2,3,4}
SetB = {1,2,5,6}
The symm diff between A and B is= {3,4,5,6}

Example 2:

Code

SetA = {"Hi", "Coding", "Ninjas"}
SetB = {"Hi", "Coders", "Ninjas"}

print("SetA: ", SetA,"\n")
print("SetB: ", SetB,"\n")

symmetricDiff = SetA.symmetric_difference(SetB)
print('The symm diff between A and B is=', symmetricDiff)

You can also try this code with Online Python Compiler

Run Code

Output

SetA = {'Hi', 'Coding', 'Ninjas'}
SetB = {'Hi','Coders', 'Ninjas'}
The symm diff between A and B is= {'Coders','Ninjas'} 

Example 3:

If two sets are equal, then the symmetric difference between them will be an empty set. 

Code

SetA = {"Hello", "Coders"}

SetB = {"Hello", "Coders"}



print("SetA: ", SetA,"\n")

print("SetB: ", SetB,"\n")



symmetricDiff = SetA.symmetric_difference(SetB)

print('The symm diff between A and B is=', symmetricDiff)

You can also try this code with Online Python Compiler

Run Code

Output

SetA = {'Hello', 'Coders'}
Set B = {'Coders', 'Hello'}
The symm diff between A and B is= set()

Moving forward, let’s discuss how symmetric_difference() function is different from the difference() function.

You can try and compile it with online python compiler.

Using the symmetric_difference() Method to Find the Symmetric Difference of Sets

The symmetric_difference() method in Python allows you to find elements that are unique to two sets. It simplifies comparing sets by returning a new set with values that appear in one set but not the other, excluding common elements.

Python Set symmetric_difference() with multiple Sets

You can find the symmetric difference between multiple sets by chaining the symmetric_difference() method. Here’s how you can implement it:

Implementation:

# Define multiple sets
set_a = {1, 2, 3, 4}
set_b = {3, 4, 5, 6}
set_c = {6, 7, 8}
# Find the symmetric difference of multiple sets
symmetric_diff = set_a.symmetric_difference(set_b).symmetric_difference(set_c)
print("Symmetric Difference of set_a, set_b, and set_c:", symmetric_diff)

You can also try this code with Online Python Compiler

Run Code

Output:

Symmetric Difference of set_a, set_b, and set_c: {1, 2, 5, 7, 8}

Symmetric Difference Using ^ Operator

In Python, you can also use the ^ operator to find the symmetric difference between sets. This operator provides a concise alternative to the symmetric_difference() method.

Implementation:

# Define two sets
set_x = {10, 20, 30}
set_y = {20, 30, 40, 50}
# Find the symmetric difference using the ^ operator
symmetric_diff_operator = set_x ^ set_y
print("Symmetric Difference using ^ operator:", symmetric_diff_operator)

You can also try this code with Online Python Compiler

Run Code

Output:

Symmetric Difference using ^ operator: {40, 10, 50}

Example

The first image shows that Symmetric Difference in Python will return elements in either set, but not both whereas Python Set Difference will return elements only present in SetA, not SetB. 

 *The green part shows the symmetric difference and set difference.    

Difference Between difference() and symmetric_difference()

Frequently Asked Question

Which operator can be used for the symmetric difference in python?

In Python, the ^ operator can be used to find the symmetric difference between two sets. It provides a concise alternative to the symmetric_difference() method, yielding the same result.

Why symmetric difference in python is used?

The symmetric difference in python is used to find the set of elements present in two sets but not in their intersection.

What is the symmetric difference between two equal sets?

The symmetric difference between two equal sets results in an empty set. This occurs because there are no unique elements present in either set, as all elements are common.

Conclusion

In this article, we learned the symmetric difference function in Python, providing programs for a clearer understanding of its functionality. We also highlighted the differences between the Python set difference function and the symmetric difference function. For further learning about Python, please refer to the articles mentioned below.

• Python Set Difference()     
• Python
• Dictionary and Sets
• Data Structures in Python
   

We hope this article has helped you in understanding about symmetric difference in python. If this article helped you in any way, then you can read more such articles on our platform, Code360. For interview preparations, you can read the Interview Experiences of popular companies. 

Happy Coding!