#create a new set
a=set([1,2,3,'foo','bar'])
#or, using a literal:
a={1,2,3,'foo','bar'}
#create an empty set
a=set()
#or, use the clear method
a.clear()
#comparison to a new blank set
if a==set():
#do something
#length-checking comparison
if len(a)==0:
#do something