In Python, you can remove items from a set using various methods depending on your needs:

1. Using remove() – Removes a Specific Item

colors = {"red", "green", "blue"}
colors.remove("green")
print(colors)

Output:

{'red', 'blue'}

⚠️ If the item doesn't exist, it raises an error:

colors = {"red", "green", "blue"}
colors.remove("yellow")  # KeyError

2. Using discard() – Removes a Specific Item (No Error if Missing)

colors = {"red", "green", "blue"}
colors.discard("green")
print(colors)
colors.discard("yellow")  # No error

Output:

{'red', 'blue'}

3. Using pop() – Removes a Random Item

numbers = {1, 2, 3, 4}
removed_item = numbers.pop()
print("Removed:", removed_item)
print("Remaining:", numbers)

Output (varies each time):

Removed: 1
Remaining: {2, 3, 4}

⚠️ Raises KeyError if the set is empty.

4. Using clear() – Remove All Items from the Set

languages = {"Python", "Java", "C++"}
languages.clear()
print(languages)

Output:

set()

5. Delete Entire Set Using del

cities = {"Delhi", "Mumbai"}
del cities
# print(cities)  # ❌ Raises NameError (no longer defined)

Use del to delete the entire set object from memory.

Remove Items Conditionally (Using Comprehension)

nums = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
# Remove even numbers
nums = {x for x in nums if x % 2 != 0}
print(nums)

Output:

{1, 3, 5}

Common Error: Removing from Empty Set

s = set()
s.pop()  # ❌ KeyError: pop from an empty set

Summary Table