A list can represent an unordered mathematical set---simply consider a
value an element of a set if it appears in the list, and ignore the
order of the list. To form the union of two sets, use @code{append} (as
-long as you don't mind having duplicate elements). Other useful
+long as you don't mind having duplicate elements). You can remove
+@code{equal} duplicates using @code{delete-dups}. Other useful
functions for sets include @code{memq} and @code{delq}, and their
@code{equal} versions, @code{member} and @code{delete}.
representation: upper-case and lower-case letters are treated as
equal, and unibyte strings are converted to multibyte prior to
comparison.
+@end defun
+
+@defun delete-dups list
+This function destructively removes all @code{equal} duplicates from
+@var{list} and returns the result. Of several @code{equal}
+occurrences of an element in @var{list}, @code{delete-dups} keeps the
+last one.
+
+The value of @var{list} after a call to this function is undefined.
+Usually, we store the return value back in @var{list}:
+
+@example
+(setq list (delete-dups list))
+@end example
@end defun
See also the function @code{add-to-list}, in @ref{Setting Variables},