This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by pratikshya behera
Time Complexity is the most basic yet most crucial aspect of any efficient code.
When solving problems on platforms like LeetCode, Codeforces, HackerRank, or GFG, we often start with the most intuitive logic — commonly called the Brute Force Approach.
But here’s the twist:
Even if your logic is correct, your code might still fail with a TLE (Time Limit Exceeded) error. So what gives?
Pro Tip Before Submitting Your Code
Always estimate the time complexity of your solution based on the input constraints before hitting submit.
Here’s a good rule of thumb:
Your solution should not exceed 10⁸ operations per second.
So if your input size is n = 10⁵, your code must run in about O(n) or O(n log n) time, not O(n²) or worse.
Reference list of Time Complexities to predict if your solution may lead to a TLE error according to the input constraints:
Work on logic that sustains the needed time complexity for a good solution.
Final Checklist Before Submission:
- Estimate your code’s time complexity.
- Compare it with the input constraint.
- Rewrite or optimize before it’s too late.
Time complexity isn’t just a theoretical topic to be studied, it’s a coding skill just like logic.
Also published at: https://medium.com/@bpratikshya30/how-to-not-get-a-tle-8159bb06c3bd
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by pratikshya behera
pratikshya behera | Sciencx (2025-07-13T12:45:19+00:00) How to Avoid TLE (Time Limit Exceeded) Errors in Coding Problems. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/07/13/how-to-avoid-tle-time-limit-exceeded-errors-in-coding-problems/
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