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Extracting difference, intersection, and distinct characters between two strings in Scala

Here, we will learn to perform different operations like difference, intersection, and distinct characters between two strings in the Scala programming language.
Submitted by Shivang Yadav, on May 05, 2020 [Last updated : March 10, 2023]

Given two strings, we have to find the difference, intersections, and distinct characters between two strings.

Difference between two strings

The difference between the two strings gives the characters that are present in the first string and not in second.

Syntax

    str1 diff str2

Returns a string that contains all those characters that are in str1 but not in str2.

Example 1

object MyClass {

    def main(args: Array[String]) {
        val str1 = "BMW S1000 RR"
        val str2 = "BMW S1000 XR"
        println("String 1 = " + str1)
        println("String 2 = " + str2)
        val difference = str1 diff str2
        println("The difference between str1 and str2 is "+ difference)
    }
}

Output

String 1 = BMW S1000 RR
String 2 = BMW S1000 XR
The difference between str1 and str2 is R

Explanation

Here, we have initialized two strings str1 = "BMW S1000 RR" and str2 = "BMW S1000 XR". And then we will find the difference between str1 and str2 which will return the character of difference between them which is R.

Example 2

object MyClass {

    def main(args: Array[String]) {
        val str1 = "BMW S1000 RR"
        val str2 = "BMW S1000 XR"
        println("String 1 = " + str1)
        println("String 2 = " + str2)
        val difference = str2 diff str1
        println("The difference between str2 and str1 is "+ difference)
    }
}

Output

String 1 = BMW S1000 RR
String 2 = BMW S1000 XR
The difference between str2 and str1 is X

Explanation

Here, we have initialized two strings str1 = "BMW S1000 RR" and str2 = "BMW S1000 XR". And then we will find the difference between str2 and str1 which will return the character of difference between them which is X.

Intersection of two strings

The intersection of two strings gives the characters that are present in both the strings.

Syntax

    str1 intersect str2

Returns a string that contains a character that are present in both the strings.

Example

object MyClass {

    def main(args: Array[String]) {
        val str1 = "BMW S1000 RR"
        val str2 = "BMW S1000 XR"
        println("String 1 = " + str1)
        println("String 2 = " + str2)
        val intersect = str1 intersect str2
        println("The intersection of str1 and str2 is " + intersect)
    }
}

Output

String 1 = BMW S1000 RR
String 2 = BMW S1000 XR
The intersection of str1 and str2 is BMW S1000 R

Explanation

Here, we have initialized two strings str1 = "BMW S1000 RR" and str2 = "BMW S1000 XR". And then we will find the intersection of both the strings which will return the character of intersection between them which is BMW S1000 R.

Distinct characters in the string

The distinct finds the character that are unique and also the first occurrence of duplicate characters.

Syntax

    string.distinct

Returns the elements that are unique in the string. And the first occurrence of all duplicate characters.

Example

object MyClass {
    def main(args: Array[String]) {
        val string = "includehelp"
        println("String = " + string)
        val distinct = string.distinct 
        println("The distinct elements are " + distinct)
    }
}

Output

String = includehelp
The distinct elements are includehp

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