Python Set difference_update() method with examples

In the last tutorial, we discussed Set difference() method, which returns the difference between two given Sets. In this guide, we will see difference_update() method which doesn’t return anything but it updates the first Set with the Set difference. For example, calling method like this A.difference_update(B) would update the Set A with the A-B (elements that are in Set A but not in Set B).

Python Set difference_update() Syntax

X.difference_update(Y)

This would update the Set X with the X-Y
X-Y: Elements that are only in Set X and not in Set Y

Parameters: This method accepts a Set as a parameter.
Return Value: None. This method doesn’t return anything.

Python Set difference_update() Example

In the following example we have two Sets X and Y. We are calling X.difference_update(Y) which updates the Set X with the Set difference X – Y.

# Set X
X = {"hello", 9, 10, "hi"}

# Set Y
Y = {9, "hi", 6, "BeginnersBook"}

# calling difference_update() method
X.difference_update(Y)

# Displaying Set X and Y
print("X is:", X)
print("Y is:", Y)

Output: