Python Set clear() method

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The Python Set clear() method is used to remove all elements from a set effectively making it an empty set. This method does not take any arguments and modifies the set in place. It is particularly useful when we want to reuse an existing set without retaining its previous elements.

Syntax

Following is the syntax and parameters of Python Set clear() method.

set_name.clear()

Parameter

This method does not take any parameters.

Return value

This method This function returns an empty set.

Example 1

Following is the example of the clear() method which clears the given set and prints the empty set −

# initialzing a set
number_set = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
# clearing the set
number_set.clear()
# printing the set
print(number_set)

Output

set()

Example 2

In below example we are creating a set by adding elements into it and later on we used the clear() function to clear the set −

# Creating a set
numbers = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

# Adding more elements
numbers.update([6, 7, 8])
print(numbers) 

# Clearing the set
numbers.clear()
print(numbers)  

Output

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}
set()

Example 3

Now, in here we are using the clear() method in a loop for clearing the elements of the set.

# Creating a list of sets
list_of_sets = [{1, 2}, {3, 4}, {5, 6}]

# Clearing each set in the list
for s in list_of_sets:
    s.clear()

print(list_of_sets)  

Output

[set(), set(), set()]

Example 4

We can clear the elements in the set based on the given condition and here is the example which clears the set based on the condition where the length of the cities is greater than 2.

# Creating a set
cities = {'New York', 'London', 'Paris'}

# Conditional clearing
if len(cities) > 2:
    cities.clear()

print(cities)  

Output

set()