Use prolog-dif to get logically sound answers—for both ground and non-ground cases!
Just like in this answer, we define non_member(E,Xs)
as maplist(dif(E),Xs)
.
Let's put maplist(dif(E),Xs)
and not_member(E,Xs)
by @Haile to the test!
?- not_member(E,[1,2,3]).
false. % wrong! What about `E=4`?
?- maplist(dif(E),[1,2,3]).
dif(E,1), dif(E,2), dif(E,3). % success with pending goals
Is it steadfast? (For more info on this important issue, read
this, this, this, and this answer.)
?- E=d, not_member(E,[a,b,c]).
E = d.
?- not_member(E,[a,b,c]), E=d.
false. % not steadfast
?- E=d, maplist(dif(E),[a,b,c]).
E = d.
?- maplist(dif(E),[a,b,c]), E=d. % steadfast
E = d.
Let's not forget about the most general use!
?- not_member(E,Xs).
Xs = []. % a lot of solutions are missing!
?- maplist(dif(E),Xs).
Xs = []
; Xs = [_A] , dif(E,_A)
; Xs = [_A,_B] , dif(E,_A), dif(E,_B)
; Xs = [_A,_B,_C], dif(E,_A), dif(E,_B), dif(E,_C)
...