set.intersection() method in Python

The intersection of two sets is the set of all distinct elements that are common to both sets.  It is represented using  the symbol ∩ (pronounced "cap").

For example if we have sets  A = {1, 2, 3} and B = {2, 3, 4}, the intersection of A and B is {2, 3} since these are the  elements that are present in both sets.

The set.intersection() method in Python returns the intersection of two or more sets. It returns a new set containing the common distinct elements between the sets.

set1.intersection(set2, ...)
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The method returns a new set that is the intersection of set1 and the other set(s) given as arguments.

set1 = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
set2 = {3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}

#get the intersection
result = set1.intersection(set2)
print(result)
 Visualize 
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Output:
{3, 4, 5, 6}
[Finished in 0.010471404064446688s]

With multiple arguments

In the following example,  we pass multiple sets as arguments to the intersection() method. 

set1 = {1, 2, 3}
set2 = {2, 3, 4}
set3 = {2, 3, 4, 5}

result = set1.intersection(set2, set3)
print(result)
 Visualize 
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Output:
{2, 3}
[Finished in 0.010110120289027691s]

Using other iterables 

In addition to sets, the arguments to the intersection method can be any other iterables such as lists, tuples, etc.

set1 = {1, 2, 3}
set2 = [2, 3, 4] #list
set3 = (3, 4, 5) #tuple

result = set1.intersection(set2, set3)
print(result)
 Visualize 
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Output:
{3}
[Finished in 0.009866653941571712s]

Using the & operator instead

The ampersand symbol (&) is the operator version of the intersection() method. Similarly, it returns a new set with the common elements between the sets. With this approach, both arguments must be sets and not just any other iterable.

result = set1 & set2
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set1 = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
set2 = {3, 4, 5, 6, 7}

#get the intersection
result = set1 & set2
print(result)
 Visualize 
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Output:
{3, 4, 5}
[Finished in 0.009745290037244558s]