8/9/25, 8:18 AM Python Tutor code visualizer: Visualize code in Python, JavaScript, C, C++, and Java
Python Tutor: Visualize Code and Get AI Help for Python, JavaScript, C, C++, and Java
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8/9/25, 8:18 AM Python Tutor code visualizer: Visualize code in Python, JavaScript, C, C++, and Java
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Python Tutor is designed to imitate what an instructor in an introductory programming class
draws on the blackboard:
Instructors use it as a teaching tool, and students use it to visually understand code
examples and interactively debug their programming assignments.
Quick links:
Documentation and unsupported features
FAQ for instructors using Python Tutor
How the Python Tutor visualizer can help students in your Java programming courses
How the Python Tutor visualizer can help students in your C or C++ courses
Demo
The screenshot below shows how a typical user (either an instructor or a student) would
interact with it:
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8/9/25, 8:18 AM Python Tutor code visualizer: Visualize code in Python, JavaScript, C, C++, and Java
(1) Go to pythontutor.com and select a language. Here the user chose Java and wrote
code to recursively create a LinkedList.
(2) Press ‘Visualize’ to run the code. This code ran for 46 steps, where each step is
one executed line of code. Go to any step (2a) and see what line of code was being
run at that step (2b).
(3) See the frames of all functions/methods on the stack at this step, each of which
shows its local variables. Here at step 41 we see main() along with 4 recursive calls
to init().
(4) See all objects on the heap at the current step. Here it shows a LinkedList
instance with first and last fields pointing to its first and last Node instances,
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8/9/25, 8:18 AM Python Tutor code visualizer: Visualize code in Python, JavaScript, C, C++, and Java
respectively. Each Node has a numerical value and a next pointer.
(5) See what has been printed up to this step. Here the print statement in the Node
constructor (line 5) has run 3 times.
The user can navigate forwards and backwards through all execution steps, and the
visualization changes to match the run-time state of the stack and heap at each step. In
this example, the user would see their custom LinkedList data structure getting
incrementally built up one Node at a time via recursive calls to init() until the base case
is reached when n==0.
Language Support
Despite its name, Python Tutor is also a widely-used web-based visualizer for Java that
helps students to understand and debug their code. It visualizes the majority of object-
oriented programming concepts taught in introductory college courses (e.g., CS1 and
CS2), high school AP Computer Science, and intermediate-level Java programming.
Python Tutor is also a widely-used web-based visualizer for C and C++ meant to help
students in introductory and intermediate-level courses. It uses Valgrind to perform
memory-safe run-time traversal of data structures, which lets it display data more
accurately than gdb or printf debugging. For instance, it can precisely visualize critical
concepts such as pointers, uninitialized memory, out-of-bounds errors, nested
arrays/structs/unions, type punning, and bit manipulation.
Lastly, it also supports visualizing standalone JavaScript execution, but not web frontend
code that does DOM manipulation on webpages.
Unsupported Features
Recall that Python Tutor is designed to imitate what an instructor in an introductory
programming class draws on the blackboard:
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8/9/25, 8:18 AM Python Tutor code visualizer: Visualize code in Python, JavaScript, C, C++, and Java
Thus, it is meant to illustrate small pieces of self-contained code that runs for not too many
steps. After all, an instructor can't write hundreds of lines of code, draw hundreds of data
structures and pointers, or walk through hundreds of execution steps on the board! Also,
code in introductory classes usually doesn't access external libraries. If your code can't fit
on a blackboard or presentation slide, it's probably too long to visualize effectively
in Python Tutor. This tool is not meant as a professional-level debugger.
Due to this ultra-focused design, the following features are not supported on purpose:
Code that is too large in size
shorten your code to what fits on a blackboard or presentation slide
Python Tutor is not for debugging arbitrary code that you paste into it; you'll
need to shorten your code to isolate what you want to debug
Code that runs for too many steps (e.g., > 100) or for a long time (e.g., > 10 sec)
shorten your code to isolate exactly what operations you want to visualize
e.g., make your numbers/strings smaller, arrays/lists shorter, your data
structures contain fewer items, and your loops/functions run fewer times
for Python, set breakpoints using special #break comments (example)
Code that defines too many variables or objects
shorten your code to isolate what variables you want to visualize
remove unnecessary variables and objects from your code
for Python, use #pythontutor_hide to selectively hide objects (example)
also use “Move and hide objects” option at bottom-left of visualizer to hide
Advanced language features or subtleties that only experts need to know about
Importing most external libraries (it’s meant for learning basic coding concepts)
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8/9/25, 8:18 AM Python Tutor code visualizer: Visualize code in Python, JavaScript, C, C++, and Java
Visualizing custom data structures from libraries (it supports only built-in types)
Interfacing with files, databases, networking, or other external resources
Anything involving GUI programming or manipulating GUI/webpage components
Multi-threaded / concurrent / asynchronous code (only supports single-threaded)
Other general unsupported features:
Command-line arguments (e.g., argv[]) not supported; use hard-coded strings
instead
Reading data from external files is not supported (workaround: use strings to emulate
files. StringIO examples for Python3 and Python2)
You cannot step within a line of code to show how subexpressions get evaluated
within that line; the best workaround is to manually split complex expressions into
multiple lines and assign to temporary variables on each line (example).
Printing to stderr probably won’t work; use print statements to print to stdout
Some Unicode characters may not display if your browser doesn’t have those fonts or
if you’re trying to print unprintable characters like binary data to terminal
This tool uses slightly older versions of languages (e.g., Python 3.6) for greater
stability and because instructional materials often rely on older versions. Upgrading to
the newest versions can confuse beginners who are learning from instructional
materials since the compiler/interpreter messages do not match their materials.
For a detailed list of unsupported features for each programming language, view the full
documentation here.
Reporting Bugs
The issue you’re encountering is likely listed in this document. If you're sure it's not, use the
"Generate permanent link" button to make a URL of your code. Describe the expected
behavior when running that code on your computer and how it differs from Python Tutor,
then fill out this Google Form to report your bug or security issue.
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8/9/25, 8:18 AM Python Tutor code visualizer: Visualize code in Python, JavaScript, C, C++, and Java
This form is not for requests or questions about desired features; it is only for
reproducible bug reports and private disclosures of security-related issues.
If you don't get a reply, assume your issue will not be addressed. Please do not
submit duplicate issues in the form.
There is no support for Python Tutor visualizations that are embedded in other
people’s websites. Contact those site owners for help on how to use their sites.
Privacy Policy: By using Python Tutor, your visualized code, options, user interactions, and IP address are logged on our server and may be analyzed for research
purposes. Nearly all web services collect this basic information from users in their server logs. However, Python Tutor does not collect any personally identifiable information
from its users. It uses Google services for website analytics and ads.
Terms of Service: The Python Tutor service is provided for free on an as-is basis. Use this service at your own risk. Do not use it to share confidential information. The
developers of Python Tutor are not responsible for the actions of any of the users on this website. We are also not responsible for any damages caused by using this
website. Finally, it is your responsibility to follow appropriate academic integrity standards.
Screenshots and videos policy: You have permission to take screenshots and videos of the contents of this website for use in your own content, as long as you add a clear
attribution to "Python Tutor" and a visible link to https://pythontutor.com/ in your content so that your viewers know where they came from. All screenshots and videos taken
from this website are under a Creative Commons CC BY license. Python Tutor visualizations are well-suited to include in lecture slides, course handouts, and textbooks.
You can also use presentation software (e.g., Google Slides, PowerPoint) to add text annotations, arrows, and other graphics to enhance these visualizations.
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