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Python Set difference() Method (with Examples)

Last Updated : December 11, 2025

Python Set difference() Method

The difference() is an inbuilt method of the set class that is used to find the difference between two sets, the method is called with this set (set1), and another set (set2) is passed as an argument and it returns the set of elements that do not exist in set2.

Syntax

The following is the syntax of difference() method:

set_name1.difference(set_name2)

Parameter(s):

The following are the parameter(s):

• set_name2 – Name of the another/second set to find the difference with set_name1.

Return Value

The return type of this method is <class 'set'>, it returns the set of elements that does not exist in set_name1.

Example 1: Use of Set difference() Method

# declaring the sets
cars_1 = {"Porsche", "Audi", "Lexus"}
cars_2 = {"Porsche", "Mazda", "Lincoln"}

# difference() method call
x = cars_1.difference(cars_2)

# printing the sets
print("cars_1:", cars_1)
print("cars_2:", cars_2)
print("x:", x)

Output

cars_1: {'Porsche', 'Lexus', 'Audi'}
cars_2: {'Porsche', 'Mazda', 'Lincoln'}
x: {'Lexus', 'Audi'}

Example 2: Use of Set difference() Method

# declaring the sets
x = {"ABC", "PQR", "XYZ"}
y = {"ABC", "PQR", "XYZ"}
z = {"DEF", "MNO", "XYZ"}

# printing the results
print("x:", x)
print("y:", y)
print("z:", z)

# printing the differences
print("x.difference(y): ", x.difference(y))
print("y.difference(x): ", y.difference(x))
print("x.difference(z): ", x.difference(z))
print("y.difference(z): ", y.difference(z))
print("z.difference(x): ", z.difference(x))

Output

x: {'XYZ', 'PQR', 'ABC'}
y: {'XYZ', 'PQR', 'ABC'}
z: {'XYZ', 'MNO', 'DEF'}
x.difference(y):  set()
y.difference(x):  set()
x.difference(z):  {'ABC', 'PQR'}
y.difference(z):  {'ABC', 'PQR'}
z.difference(x):  {'MNO', 'DEF'}