The Best Programming Languages for LeetCode
People often ask me what the best programming language for LeetCoding is. The good news is that there is a solid answer. Find out the programming language that will maximize your chance of acing the coding interviews. 😎
“It’s better to take longer to solve a problem than to struggle with a language you aren’t familiar with. ”
LeetCode
Hey Pirates 🏴☠️ PK here. One of the most frequently asked questions in How to Prepare for LeetCode Effectively is, "What are the best programming languages for LeetCode?" Companies are usually language agnostic, meaning they don't care which language you use, but there are a few I recommend for several reasons. So here they are, the three programming languages I recommend.
1st. Your Best Language
The first programming language is the one that you are most comfortable with, especially if you have an interview soon. Think about it. If you have an upcoming interview in a few weeks, why would you suddenly learn a new programming language? You should always use the one you are most comfortable and confident with! A coding interview is not just about your problem-solving skill; the very foundation of it lies in your programming language! To be an architect, you need to know your math. Likewise, to be a good problem solver, you need to know your coding language. Your proficiency in the language of your choice shows how strong your blueprint is. Never walk into an interview with a weak blueprint; you do get assessed by your proficiency level, too. For example, I can immediately tell how good the candidates are just by looking at a few lines of code. Yes, pros are not perfect, but they don't make the same mistakes as amateurs. What distinguishes the pros from amateurs is that pros know what or where their mistakes are, but amateurs don't; they don't often understand why the code doesn't compile or fail. A spectacular algorithm only you can describe verbally isn't the best interview strategy. Stop the struggle; you don't have the time to fight the syntax. You need to know your math to architect the next building. Prove that you have what it takes for a Software Engineer.
2nd. Python
What if you have the time to invest in learning a new language? The second programming language I recommend is Python. According to Stack Overflow, It's the third most popular programming language in 2021 and the most wanted language for its fifth year. Most importantly, you can solve the same problem with the least amount of code when you use Python. Writing less is the best for interviews because you want to maximize your time implementing your logic and minimize it fighting the syntax. Less code = faster implementation + fewer bugs. It's probably the most efficient and optimized language for coding interviews! Another important reason to choose Python over others is the built-in libraries. For example, some languages don't have PriorityQueues built-in. Aside from LeetCode, Python is frankly the most attractive programming language nowadays. It's easy to learn, faster to write and has a well-developed community base. It's also versatile, meaning it's used in nearly any environment, including mobile, desktop, web, and hardware, not to mention its dominance in AI, Machine Learning, and Data Science. Maximize your chance of landing a software engineering job with a swiss army knife in hand. Python is the clear winner here.
3rd. Java
The third and last programming language I recommend is Java. It's arguably the most popular and widely used statically-typed language globally. That may also be why most LeetCode solutions and many community posts are in Java. It has a built-in PriorityQueue, too. As a side note, despite its diminishing popularity, I still believe that Java is one of the best programming languages to learn for beginners. If you're serious about becoming a software engineer, it can help build a strong foundation in computer science.
Summary
We've explored the three programming languages you should use for LeetCoding. You can leetcode with any programming language. However, I don't recommend languages other than Python and Java for two reasons. First, the available resources are relatively scarce, so finding a solution in different languages can be challenging. Second, the language inherently makes you write more code to answer the same problem. This forces you to spend more time fighting the syntax than implementing the logic. These are the two reasons why I think Python and Java shine brightly here. But most importantly, complete your interviews with the most comfortable and confident coding language for you. It's better to take longer to solve a problem than to struggle with a language you aren't familiar with.
Don't forget to like and subscribe if you found this helpful. Thanks, and see you next time. Peace 🏴☠️
“It’s better to take longer to solve a problem than to struggle with a language you aren’t familiar with. ”
