Universal set ($U$)

A universal set $U$ fixes the objects under consideration in a particular discussion; each set under consideration is a subset of $U$. For example, $U=\{1,2,3,4,5,6\}$ makes the complement of $\{1,2,3\}$ equal to $\{4,5,6\}$. This use of “universal” is local to the discussion: it does not assert the existence of a set containing every set. Stating $U$ makes exclusion rules precise.