thanks for your response - sorry I mentioned python, even though I meant any programming language as opposed to DSA. When it comes to DSA types of problems, the key idea is to reduce the Time Complexity of algorithm and platforms like Leetcode use a specific time limit and a huge input data set to check for Time Complexity - based on the testcases I have looked at here, I did not see - may be, I am wrong here.

I don't think the whole point of this platform is only to practice python skills. Personally im here to practice my DS and Algo and I use C sharp. Other people use other languages as well.

Why prohibit nested loops? Do they have bad performance?

That was so fast - in fact, it is amazing.

I am quite new to codewars. May I ask a clarifying question - why do we replicate the problems that are already in other platforms like Leetcode where the intent there is to use DS/Algorithmic ideas to solve problem in an efficient way, whereas here the aim is to practice our python skills - please help me understand and do not take it as a criticism. Since I have solved this problem long ago in Leetcode, I was wondering what I should do with it?

Fixed.

the link to the leetcode problem is not valid anymore - it shows 404.

wow! beautiful solution to avoid the clunky if-else and also the clever dict-lookup.