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    Python - Join Sets


    In Python, a Set is an ordered collection of items. The items may be of different types. However, an item in the set must be an immutable object. It means, we can only include numbers, string and tuples in a set and not lists. Python's set class has different provisions to join set objects.

    Join Python Sets Using "|" Operator

    The "|" symbol (pipe) is defined as the union operator. It performs the A∪B operation and returns a set of items in A, B or both. Set doesn't allow duplicate items.

    Example

    s1={1,2,3,4,5}
    s2={4,5,6,7,8}
    s3 = s1|s2
    print (s3)
    

    It will produce the following output

    {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}
    

    Join Python Sets union() Method

    The set class has union() method that performs the same operation as | operator. It returns a set object that holds all items in both sets, discarding duplicates.

    Example

    s1={1,2,3,4,5}
    s2={4,5,6,7,8}
    s3 = s1.union(s2)
    print (s3)
    

    Join Python Sets update() Method

    The update() method also joins the two sets, as the union() method. However it doen't return a new set object. Instead, the elements of second set are added in first, duplicates not allowed.

    Example

    s1={1,2,3,4,5}
    s2={4,5,6,7,8}
    s1.update(s2)
    print (s1)
    

    Join Python Sets Using Unpacking Operator

    In Python, the "*" symbol is used as unpacking operator. The unpacking operator internally assign each element in a collection to a separate variable.

    Example

    s1={1,2,3,4,5}
    s2={4,5,6,7,8}
    s3 = {*s1, *s2}
    print (s3)