If A and B are two sets. The set difference of A and B is a set of elements that exists only in set A but not in B. For example:
If A = {1, 2, 3, 4}
B = {2, 3, 9}
Then,
A - B = {1, 4}
B - A = {9}
The syntax of difference() method in Python is:
A.difference(B)
Here, A and B are two sets. The following syntax is equivalent to A-B.
Return Value from difference()
difference() method returns the difference between two sets which is also a set. It doesn't modify original sets.
Example 1: How difference() works in Python?
A = {'a', 'b', 'c', 'd'}
B = {'c', 'f', 'g'}
# Equivalent to A-B
print(A.difference(B))
# Equivalent to B-A
print(B.difference(A))
Output
{'b', 'a', 'd'}
{'g', 'f'}
You can also find the set difference using - operator in Python.
Example 2: Set Difference Using - Operator.
A = {'a', 'b', 'c', 'd'}
B = {'c', 'f', 'g'}
print(A-B)
print(B-A)
Output
{'b', 'd', 'a'}
{'f', 'g'}