List Difference
Difference Types Explained:
- A - B: Items that exist in List A but NOT in List B
- B - A: Items that exist in List B but NOT in List A
- Symmetric: Items that exist in either list but NOT both (combines A-B and B-A)
Related Tools
What is List Difference?
List difference is a set operation that helps you find items that exist in one list but not in another. It's the opposite of finding common items (intersection) - instead, you're looking for what's unique or exclusive to a particular list.
The tool supports three difference operations: A-B (items only in List A), B-A (items only in List B), and symmetric difference (items in either list but not both). This is useful for comparing data sets, finding missing entries, or identifying changes between lists.
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Difference Types
A - B (Only in A)
Find items that exist in List A but are NOT in List B. Useful for finding what's missing from B or what's exclusive to A.
B - A (Only in B)
Find items that exist in List B but are NOT in List A. Perfect for identifying new additions or items exclusive to B.
Symmetric Difference
Find items unique to either list - items in A but not B, plus items in B but not A. Shows all differences at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between A-B and B-A?
A-B gives you items that are in List A but missing from List B. B-A gives you items that are in List B but missing from List A. The order matters for set difference operations.
When should I use symmetric difference?
Use symmetric difference when you want to see all items that are different between the two lists, regardless of which list they come from. It's essentially A-B plus B-A combined.
How does case sensitivity affect the comparison?
When case sensitive, "Apple" and "apple" are treated as different items. When disabled (default), they're considered the same.
Can I quickly swap the lists?
Yes! Click the "Swap Lists" button to exchange the contents of List A and List B. This is useful for quickly checking both A-B and B-A results.