Python Set symmetric_difference() Method

The Python set symmetric_difference() method returns a new set containing elements that are in either set but not in both. It can also be written using the ^ operator.

The syntax of the symmetric_difference() method is:

set.symmetric_difference(set2)
# or
set1 ^ set2

Python set symmetric_difference() Parameters

The symmetric_difference() method takes one parameter:

• set2: Another set or iterable to find the symmetric difference with.

Here are examples demonstrating the symmetric_difference() method:

# Example 1: Basic symmetric difference
set1 = {1, 2, 3, 4}
set2 = {3, 4, 5, 6}
result = set1.symmetric_difference(set2)
print(result)  # Output: {1, 2, 5, 6}

# Example 2: Using operator syntax
numbers1 = {1, 2, 3}
numbers2 = {3, 4, 5}
result = numbers1 ^ numbers2
print(result)  # Output: {1, 2, 4, 5}

# Example 3: With empty set
set1 = {1, 2, 3}
set2 = set()
result = set1.symmetric_difference(set2)
print(result)  # Output: {1, 2, 3}

The symmetric_difference() method is useful for finding elements unique to each set.