Python Set | symmetric_difference()

Python Set symmetric_difference() Method is used to get the elements present in either of the two sets, but not common to both the sets. Let’s look at the Venn diagram of the symmetric_difference between two sets.

Python Set symmetric_difference() Venn diagram

Symmetric Difference is marked in Green If there are a set_A and set_B, then the symmetric difference between them will be equal to the union of set_A and set_B without the intersection between the two.

Python set symmetric_difference() Method Syntax

Syntax: set_A.symmetric_difference(set_B)

Parameter: Takes a single parameter that has to be a set

Return: Returns a new set which is the symmetric difference between the two sets.

Python set symmetric_difference() Method Example

Python3

set_A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
set_B = {6, 7, 3, 9, 4}
print(set_A.symmetric_difference(set_B))

Output:

{1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9}

Example 1: Finding Symmetric difference using ‘^’ Operator in Python

We can also find symmetric difference from two sets using ‘^’ operator in Python.

Python3

set_A = {"ram", "rahim", "ajay", "rishav", "aakash"}
set_B = {"aakash", "ajay", "shyam", "ram", "ravi"}
print(set_A ^ set_B)

Output:

{'shyam', 'ravi', 'rahim', 'rishav'}

Example 2: Python Set symmetric_difference() Method with multiple Sets

Python

A = {'p', 'a', 'w', 'a', 'n'}
B = {'r', 'a', 'o', 'n', 'e'}
C = {}

print(A.symmetric_difference(B))
print(B.symmetric_difference(A))

print(A.symmetric_difference(C))
print(B.symmetric_difference(C))

Output:

set(['e', 'o', 'p', 'r', 'w'])
set(['e', 'o', 'p', 'r', 'w'])
set(['a', 'p', 'w', 'n'])
set(['a', 'r', 'e', 'o', 'n'])