C program to print hollow square star pattern

C Program to Print Hollow Square Star Pattern

Introduction

This guide will explore the creation of a C program that generates a visual pattern resembling a hollow square composed of stars (*). We’ll delve into the logic, code structure, and key steps involved in crafting this pattern.

Understanding the Pattern

• Shape: The pattern forms a square with empty spaces inside, creating a hollow appearance.
• Composition: Stars (*) are used to construct the borders of the square.
• Arrangement: The stars are positioned in specific rows and columns to achieve the desired hollowness.

Steps to Implement

1. Include Necessary Header:

C

#include <stdio.h>

2. Declare Variables:

C

int rows, i, j;

3. Get Input for Number of Rows:

C

printf("Enter the number of rows: ");
scanf("%d", &rows);

4. Use Nested Loops to Print the Hollow Square:

C

for (i = 1; i <= rows; i++) {
    // Print stars for the first and last column of each row
    for (j = 1; j <= rows; j++) {
        if (j == 1 || j == rows) {
            printf("*");
        } else {
            printf(" ");  // Print space for inner columns
        }
    }
    printf("\n");  // Move to the next line
}

Complete Example Code:

C

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int rows, i, j;

    printf("Enter the number of rows: ");
    scanf("%d", &rows);

    for (i = 1; i <= rows; i++) {
        for (j = 1; j <= rows; j++) {
            if (j == 1 || j == rows || i == 1 || i == rows) {
                printf("*");  // Print stars for borders
            } else {
                printf(" ");  // Print spaces for hollowness
            }
        }
        printf("\n");  // Move to the next line
    }

    return 0;
}

Explanation

1. The outer for loop iterates through each row of the pattern.
2. The inner for loop iterates through each column within a row.
3. The if condition checks if the current position is on the border of the square (first or last column, or first or last row).
4. If it’s on the border, a star (*) is printed; otherwise, a space is printed to create the hollow effect.
5. printf("\n") moves the cursor to the next line after printing each row.

Key Points to Remember

• The nested loops control the positioning of stars and spaces.
• The if condition determines whether to print a star or a space based on the coordinates.
• Adjust the rows variable to control the size of the hollow square pattern.