🐍 Python Pattern Challenge — Day 10

Pattern printing is a great way to strengthen your Python logic, nested loops, conditions, and problem-solving skills. For Day 10, we’re taking the challenge a step further with a square spiral pattern.

Unlike a normal square or diamond, this pattern requires you to think about rows, columns, boundaries, and changing positions.

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Solution 1 — Using Nested Loops

n = 7

for i in range(n):
    for j in range(n):
        if (
            i == 0 or i == n - 1 or
            j == 0 or j == n - 1 or
            (2 <= i <= 4 and 2 <= j <= 4) and
            (i == 2 or i == 4 or j == 2 or j == 4)
        ):
            print("*", end=" ")
        else:
            print(" ", end=" ")
    print()

How it works:

The pattern is created by checking the position of every row and column.

• i == 0 → top border
• i == n - 1 → bottom border
• j == 0 → left border
• j == n - 1 → right border
• The additional conditions create the inner square.

This approach helps you understand how multiple conditions can be combined to create complex patterns.

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Solution 2 — Using a Pattern List

pattern = [
    "*********",
    "*       *",
    "* ***** *",
    "* *   * *",
    "* ***** *",
    "*       *",
    "*********"
]

for row in pattern:
    print(" ".join(row))

How it works:

Instead of calculating every position, we store each row as a string.

For example:

*********
*       *
* ***** *

Then:

for row in pattern:


prints each row one by one.

This approach is simple and useful when the pattern is fixed.

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Solution 3 — Using a Function

def pattern(n):
    for i in range(n):
        for j in range(n):
            edge = i in (0, n - 1) or j in (0, n - 1)
            inner = 2 <= i <= n - 3 and 2 <= j <= n - 3
            inner_edge = i in (2, n - 3) or j in (2, n - 3)

            print("*" if edge or (inner and inner_edge) else " ", end=" ")
        print()

pattern(7)

How it works:

Here, we divide the logic into three parts:

edge

controls the outer square.

inner

defines the inner region.

inner_edge

creates the inner boundary.

This makes the code more structured and reusable.

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⚡ Short & Clean Code

p = ["*********", "*       *", "* ***** *",
     "* *   * *", "* ***** *", "*       *", "*********"]

for x in p:
    print(" ".join(x))

🔥 Short, readable, and perfect for a fixed pattern challenge.

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🚀 Challenge Yourself

Can you modify this pattern:

• Create a larger spiral using n?
• Generate the pattern without manually writing the rows?
• Use only nested loops and conditions?
• Replace * with numbers?
• Create a spiral using one continuous path?
• Solve it in the shortest possible Python code?

Drop your solution below! 👇

10 Days. 10 Patterns. Stronger Python Logic. 🐍🔥

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