Python Set symmetric_difference_update() Method

The Python set symmetric_difference_update() method updates the original set with elements that are in either set but not in both. It can also be written using the ^= operator.

The syntax of the symmetric_difference_update() method is:

set.symmetric_difference_update(set2)
# or
set1 ^= set2

Python set symmetric_difference_update() Parameters

The symmetric_difference_update() method takes one parameter:

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

Here are examples demonstrating the symmetric_difference_update() method:

# Example 1: Basic usage
set1 = {1, 2, 3, 4}
set2 = {3, 4, 5, 6}
set1.symmetric_difference_update(set2)
print(set1)  # Output: {1, 2, 5, 6}

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

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

The symmetric_difference_update() method modifies the original set in place.