Computers are mostly used to store information and extract information from it. Python is one of the most powerful programming languages. We can use Python to get computers to do most of the routine processes. This blog is all about ”Tips On Getting the Difference Between Two Lists in Python”.

Some Tips On Getting the Difference Between Two Lists in Python

Approach 1: Utilize set.difference()

In Python, utilize set.difference() to get the distinction between different lists. In Python, you can get the difference between two lists by utilizing set.difference(). This function takes two sets and removes the common elements. Let’s take a look at an example of this:

list1 = [1,2,3,4,5,8,9]

list2 = [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]

difference_1 = set(list1).difference(set(list2))

difference_2 = set(list2).difference(set(list1))

list_difference = list(difference_1.union(difference_2))

print(list_difference)

Result:

4

Approach 2: Utilize set.symetric_difference()

In Python, utilize set.symetric_difference() to get the difference between two lists. In Python, you can get the Difference Between Two Lists by utilizing set.symetric_difference(). This function returns the elements that belong to either set 1 or set 2. The common elements of both sets will not be returned. Let’s take a look at an example of this:

list1 = [1,2,3,4,5,8,9]

list2 = [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]

set_difference = set(list1).symmetric_difference(set(list2))

list_difference = list(set_difference)

print(list_difference)

Result:

[6, 7, 8, 9]

Approach 3: Utilize the keyword in

Excepting two solutions mentioned above, there is another solution for you to get the difference between two lists in Python. It is utilizing keyword in.

The in keyword can be used to determine whether or not an element is included in an iterable sequence, such as a list.
This approach also makes use of the add() function. Append() alters the original list by adding elements; it does not create a new list. Append() is used to add elements to an existing list. Look at the following example to further understand about this method:

list_1 = [5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30]
list_2 = [10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60]

list_difference = []
for element in list_1:
if element not in list_2:
list_difference.append(element)

print(list_difference)

Result:

[5, 15, 25]

This approach starts by initializing the final list that needs to be printed with a 0 element count. The iteration is then initiated with list 1, the first list, using a for-loop. Then, to determine if an element is included in the second list or not, use the keyword not in.
The last step is to add the members from the first list, list difference, to the second list using the append() method. The disadvantage of this strategy is that it does not return the items from the second list.

Use the list comprehension to make this procedure easier. A technique called list comprehension uses the components of an existing list to help build a new list.

list_1 = [5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30]
list_2 = [10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60]

list_difference = [element for element in list_1 if element not in list_2]

print(list_difference)

Result:

[5, 15, 25]

Conclusion

”Tips On Getting the Difference Between Two Lists in Python” is a confusing problem. We hope this blog has helped clear the air around how to do it. If you have more questions about this topic, please leave a comment below. Thank you for reading; we are always excited when one of our posts can provide useful information on a topic like this!

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