Comparing set() operations in python language and showing differences in operations using [.difference() vs -] and [.intersection() vs &]

comparing_set_operations.py

import time

#
# Creating two large sets for testing
#

a = set(range(1, 1000000))   # Set with 1 million elements
b = set(range(500000, 1500000))  # Set that partially overlaps with set 'a'
print()

#
# Comparing: .difference vs -
#

# Measuring time with the '-' operator
start = time.perf_counter()
difference_operator = a - b
end = time.perf_counter()
operator_time = end - start
print(f"[Comparing: .difference vs -] Time with '-' operator: {operator_time:.6f} seconds")


# Measuring time with the .difference() method
start = time.perf_counter()
difference_method = a.difference(b)
end = time.perf_counter()
method_time = end - start
print(f"[Comparing: .difference vs -] Time with .difference() method: {method_time:.6f} seconds")


# Comparing execution times
print(f"[Comparing: .difference vs -] '-' operator is faster by {method_time - operator_time:.6f} seconds")


# Comparing results
if difference_operator == difference_method:
    print(f"[Comparing: .difference vs -] The results of both operations are identical, with {len(difference_method)} elements in the set")
else:
    print(f"[Comparing: .difference vs -] The results of the two operations are different!!!")



#
# Comparing: .intersection vs &
#

# Measuring time with the '&' operator
start = time.perf_counter()
intersection_operator = a & b
end = time.perf_counter()
operator_time = end - start
print(f"[Comparing: .intersection vs &] Time with '&' operator: {operator_time:.6f} seconds")


# Measuring time with the .intersection() method
start = time.perf_counter()
intersection_method = a.intersection(b)
end = time.perf_counter()
method_time = end - start
print(f"[Comparing: .intersection vs &] Time with .intersection() method: {method_time:.6f} seconds")


# Comparing execution times
print(f"[Comparing: .intersection vs &] '&' operator is faster by {method_time - operator_time:.6f} seconds")


# Comparing results
if intersection_operator == intersection_method:
    print(f"[Comparing: .intersection vs &] The results of both operations are identical, with {len(intersection_method)} elements in the set")
else:
    print(f"[Comparing: .intersection vs &] The results of the two operations are different!!!")


#
# Running on my machine
# > Proc: 11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1165G7 @ 2.80GHz
# > Ram: 32GB
# > Python: 3.12.2
#

"""
$ python comparing_set_operations.py

[Comparing: .difference vs -] Time with '-' operator: 0.021657 seconds
[Comparing: .difference vs -] Time with .difference() method: 0.026557 seconds
[Comparing: .difference vs -] '-' operator is faster by 0.004900 seconds
[Comparing: .difference vs -] The results of both operations are identical, with 499999 elements in the set
[Comparing: .intersection vs &] Time with '&' operator: 0.026268 seconds
[Comparing: .intersection vs &] Time with .intersection() method: 0.026485 seconds
[Comparing: .intersection vs &] '&' operator is faster by 0.000218 seconds
[Comparing: .intersection vs &] The results of both operations are identical, with 500000 elements in the set
"""