Dart Set
In Dart, a set is an unordered collection of unique elements. Sets are useful when you need to ensure that no duplicate values exist in your collection. Dart provides a built-in Set
class that offers various methods and properties for creating and managing sets. Below is an overview of sets in Dart, including how to create, manipulate, and utilize them effectively.
Creating Sets
You can create sets in Dart using the Set
class. Sets can be created using set literals or the Set
constructor.
- Using Set Literals:
- Using the Set Constructor:
You can also create an empty set using the Set
constructor.
Accessing and Modifying Sets
Since sets are unordered, you cannot access elements by index. However, you can check for the existence of an element or perform operations such as adding or removing elements.
- Adding Elements: Use the
add()
oraddAll()
methods.
- Removing Elements: Use the
remove()
orclear()
methods.
Set Properties and Methods
Dart provides various properties and methods to work with sets:
- Length: Get the number of elements in the set.
- Contains: Check if an element exists in the set.
- Intersection: Find common elements between two sets.
- Union: Combine two sets into one.
- Difference: Find elements in one set that are not in another.
Iterating Over Sets
You can iterate over the elements of a set using a for
loop or a forEach
method.
- Using a
for
Loop:
- Using the
forEach
Method:
Conclusion
Sets in Dart are a powerful data structure for managing collections of unique elements. Their unordered nature and built-in methods for performing set operations make them ideal for scenarios where duplicates should be avoided or when performing mathematical set operations. Understanding how to effectively work with sets will enable you to write cleaner and more efficient Dart code, whether you're managing data collections, performing calculations, or implementing algorithms that require unique values. By mastering sets, you can enhance the functionality and performance of your Dart applications.