I don't have any experience with LeetCode, but I highly doubt that Python is the reason you're missing the time limits. These sorts of challenges are usually designed to test algorithmic performance, not program optimization. Python is a fairly slow language, but for most problems an efficient solution in Python is going to do better than an inefficient program in C++. Answer from Kered13 on reddit.com
Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnprogramming › is python actually bad for competitive programming?
r/learnprogramming on Reddit: Is Python actually bad for competitive programming?
March 3, 2020 -
I've been solving coding questions on various sites like LeetCode, codewars for over a month now. My code exceeds the time limit for a few problems but it's mostly because of the algorithms I choose.
Lately, I've been reading a lot about how C++ is the best language for most coding platforms and that most questions are framed keeping in mind that they'll probably be solved in C++.
It makes me think if I should start learning C++. I've become very comfortable with python and it's libraries.
Do you think it's wise to start learning a new language after being used to one?
Note: I only do competitive programming so that I can be fast at coding interviews, not as a sport.
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I don't have any experience with LeetCode, but I highly doubt that Python is the reason you're missing the time limits. These sorts of challenges are usually designed to test algorithmic performance, not program optimization. Python is a fairly slow language, but for most problems an efficient solution in Python is going to do better than an inefficient program in C++.
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If you are failing the tests in Python, you would fail them in C++ with equivalent code. Leetcode is a learning platform. They wouldn't allow you to use Python if the problem couldn't be solved with it.
Quora
quora.com › How-good-is-Python-for-competitive-programming
How good is Python for competitive programming? - Quora
Answer (1 of 19): I have been giving a lot of programming test in Python in the last few months instead of saying it's bad let me tell you the two main issue that I faced while writing code in python. 1. Python lacks a DS where you can insert and delete with O(logn) and do lower_bound() or upper...
Videos
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnpython › where should i start from if i were to use python as my competitive programming language
r/learnpython on Reddit: where should I start from if I were to use python as my competitive programming language
June 24, 2024 -
hello everyone. fyi, I am in grade 9(half year through), and do have a bit of math olympiad background. another qn is: should I really consider c++ straightaway, due to the more probable TLE in python (especially since efficiency is very much required in competitive prog. ,) or should I take it slowly and acclimatise myself with python first? thank you so much!
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Competitive programming is often about direct memory control, Python has a huge disadvantage there. Also a lot of resources for competitive programming use C++ examples, this is a huge advantage for C++. Competitive programming is generally not what most are doing with programming which is improving workflows. Python is great for addressing workflows so a lot of people use it and find it more valuable than C++. (Especially since a lot of Python libraries call already existing pre-optimized code written in C++.) So you won't lose anything in the long run by starting with Python and moving to C++, but you'll almost definitely want to switch at some point.
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Yes, go C++ straight away if your focus is competitive programming. You still need to learn the basics and put in a lot (I mean a lot) of work.
Turing
turing.com › kb › why-is-python-best-suited-for-competitive-coding
Why is Python Best Suited for Competitive Coding?
The Python programming language offers a variety of data structures that are useful in competitive programming. The many libraries and frameworks further add to its advantage. Some of the other reasons it’s a solid choice for competitive coding ...
Codeforces
codeforces.com › blog › entry › 76310
Importance of Python in Competitive Programming - Codeforces
So here are some pro tips: 1. Use Python: Well obviously, you expected this since Python is the best suited language for competitive programming(Not the case that I don't know any other language).
GeeksforGeeks
geeksforgeeks.org › python › python-best-suited-competitive-coding
Why is python best suited for Competitive Coding? - GeeksforGeeks
October 4, 2021 - Another most important point is that python arms its users with a wide variety of functionality, packages, and libraries that act as a supplement to the programmer's mental ability. Ultimately the best thing about python is that it's very simple and we need not waste much time on trivial matters like input, output, etc. It helps shift our focus to the problem at hand. Here I'm gonna list out some of my favorite features of Python which I'm sure will encourage you to start trying python for Competitive Coding.
TutorialsPoint
tutorialspoint.com › what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-using-python-in-competitive-programming
What are the pros and cons of using Python in competitive programming?
The execution time of the program is one of the most important elements in measuring the efficiency of the code in competitive programming. Python applications take a long time to execute, making them a poor language for competitive programming.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnprogramming › is python a correct choice of language for competitive programming?
r/learnprogramming on Reddit: Is Python a correct choice of language for Competitive programming?
August 19, 2015 -
Hi All,
I have seen a Lot of post about competitive programming, and mostly they use C++, because of STL, Faster IO etc. So want to know if Python is good choice of language.
If I choose Python, What are some topics I should focus for competitive programming?
GeeksforGeeks
geeksforgeeks.org › competitive programming › getting-started-with-competitive-programming-in-python
Getting Started with Competitive Programming in Python - GeeksforGeeks
Python is a great option for programming in Competitive Programming. First off, its easy-to-understand and concise grammar enables quicker development and simpler debugging. The huge standard library of Python offers a wide range of modules ...
Published July 23, 2025
CodeChef Discuss
discuss.codechef.com › help
Is Python good for Competitive Programming? - help - CodeChef Discuss
April 5, 2020 - Hello…Currently i doing coding with python…Recently i’m started learning DS & ALGO…is python good for that???..Many people suggested CPP…Give me some tips & ideas to do better coding with python…Thanks in Advance…
Quora
quora.com › Is-Python-alone-enough-to-be-a-good-competitive-programmer
Is Python alone enough to be a good competitive programmer? - Quora
Answer (1 of 10): Yes very much! Python can be your stepping stone into the programming universe. Employers are looking for fully stacked programmers and Python will help you get there.
Pythonista Planet
pythonistaplanet.com › is-python-good-for-competitive-coding
Is Python Good for Competitive Coding? – Pythonista Planet
May 22, 2022 - If you are an absolute beginner and want to do coding challenges to get good at programming, you can choose Python as it is one of the easiest languages to learn. But if you’re more serious about competitive programming and want to compete in coding competitions, then it’s better not to go with Python.
LinkedIn
linkedin.com › pulse › python-really-good-option-competitive-programming-saumitra-shukla
Is Python really not a good option for competitive programming?
June 24, 2020 - Now coming back to python for competitive programming. first of all, I do not consider myself a great programmer as it's been 4-5 months since a started cp using python but I do know that majority of students don't prefer Python for cp and the ones who do, are bombarded with the facts about Python being 5 times slow than c++ or java. Well, there you heard it again and trust me that is totally true and the reason is simple that Python is an interpreted language.
Medium
medium.com › @kunemohith › c-or-python3-for-competitive-programming-8ccbb7285498
C++ or Python3 for Competitive Programming? | by Mohith Kune | Medium
April 10, 2020 - In this case, the C++ program took 30sec which is high but Python3 took 5minutes, which is ridiculous. It is so sad to believe but it’s the truth. Hence, for smaller inputs, Python works fine but for Larger inputs, C++ outperforms Python in time.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnprogramming › python for competitive programming
r/learnprogramming on Reddit: Python for competitive programming
January 13, 2025 -
I have just started cp and I find that I am extremely interested in it. I am in my first year in college. I have been using python as my only language for my past three years though I started cp barely weeks ago. I tried learning c earlier but I found that it was not usually worth it as how much ever I try my mind first thinks in python and then translates into c so it was just a waste of time. However now I am facing huge pressure from my peers and mentors to learn c++ as there is no hope for python in cp. I am confused at what to do because my dream is to become a red coder before I finish college and I am not sure whether I should spend a considerable amount of time learning a new language that I am not really interested in.
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my dream is to become a red coder Why?
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If you want to compete in IOI or similar, check the allowed programming languages. At IOI it's currently C++ only. Apart from that, your call. Python is very sinple to implement ideas quickly, but you pay a huge price on timed tasks. My advice would be C or C++ if you can handle either. Java may also be a good alternative, and of course Python is a nice language.
TutorialsPoint
tutorialspoint.com › home › articles on trending technologies › why is python best suited for competitive coding
Why is python best suited for Competitive Coding
July 30, 2019 - Discover why Python is considered the best programming language for competitive coding, including its features, advantages, and community support.
CodeChef Discuss
discuss.codechef.com › t › python-in-competitive-programming › 85063
Python in competitive programming - CodeChef Discuss
February 4, 2021 - Python is the only programming language I have learned and I use it to solve questions in competitive programming. But my peers advise me to switch to C++ stating that python is useless in cp. So, is it necessary that I …
Quora
quora.com › Why-is-python-not-preferred-for-competitive-programming-Does-companies-actually-use-python-for-development
Why is python not preferred for competitive programming? Does companies actually use python for development? - Quora
Answer (1 of 2): Python is not preferred because of utter laziness of the CP service providers. They have no clue how to perf benchmark a program. Honestly - me and Vivek https://www.linkedin.com/in/viswanat/ talked to some of them - asking them how they actually benchmark a program to decide ...
PW Skills
pwskills.com › blog › python › competitive programming in python: how to start, tips for improvement, pros, cons
Competitive Programming In Python: How To Start, Tips For Improvement, Pros, Cons
November 4, 2025 - Competitive Programming in Python: Python is an excellent option for programming in Competitive Programming. First off, it’s easy-to-understand and concise grammar enables quicker development and simpler debugging.