Print a Simple Rectangle Using Asterisks in C Programming

C Programming: Print a Simple Rectangle Using Asterisks
When it comes to C programming, creating shapes with asterisks is a fundamental exercise that helps beginners understand loops, conditionals, and basic output techniques. In this article, we will guide you through the process of printing a simple rectangle using asterisks in C. We will provide a clear, step-by-step explanation of the code, the output you should expect, and additional insights to enhance your understanding of C programming.

Understanding the Basics of C Programming

Before diving into the specifics of printing a rectangle with asterisks, it’s crucial to grasp the fundamental concepts of C programming. C is a language used for system programming, application development, and embedded systems. It provides a robust set of features including loops, conditionals, and functions, which are essential for creating efficient and effective programs.

The Code for Printing a Simple Rectangle

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//Programed by KAVIKUMARAN G

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int rows, columns;
    
    
    printf("Enter the number of rows: ");
    scanf("%d", &rows);
    
    printf("Enter the number of columns: ");
    scanf("%d", &columns);
    
    for(int i = 1; i <= rows; i++) {
        for(int j = 1; j <= columns; j++) {
            printf("* ");
        }
        printf("\n"); 
    }
    
    return 0;
}

Explanation of Each Line:

include <stdio.h>

• This line includes the standard input-output library (stdio.h), which allows the use of functions like printf (for output) and scanf (for input).
• Without this, you wouldn’t be able to print or get user input in C.

int main() {

• This is the main function thus the program always starts execution from the Main function.
• Every C program starts with the main() function, and its return type is int, meaning it returns an integer value (usually 0 at the end of successful execution).

 int rows, columns;

• two variables are decleared to store the number of rows and columns given by the user
• the number of rows and columns by the user can be stored in the variable and it is used for looping

printf("Enter the number of rows: ");

• The printf function is used to prompt the user to enter the number of rows.
• the printf function will used to print message “Enter the number of rows: ” .

scanf("%d", &rows);

• scanf is used to read the user input. It reads an integer input from the user and stores it in the rows variable.
• %d is a format specifier for integers.
• &rows is the memory address of the rows variable where the input will be stored.

printf("Enter the number of columns: ");

• Another printf function is used to prompt the user to enter the number of columns.
• the printf function print “Enter the number of columns: “

scanf("%d", &columns);

• Like the previous scanf, this reads an integer input for the columns variable using the format specifier %d.
• The input is stored at the memory address of columns (&columns).

for(int i = 1; i <= rows; i++) {

• This is the outer loop which controls the number of rows of the rectangle.
• The loop starts with i = 1 and runs as long as i is less than or equal to rows. It increments i by 1 on each iteration.
• Each iteration represents a new row being printed.

for(int j = 1; j <= columns; j++) {

• it the inner loop that is nested insde the outer loop and It controls the number of columns (asterisks) to be printed in each row.
• The loop starts at j = 1 and runs until j <= columns. On each iteration, it prints an asterisk (*) followed by a space.

printf("* ");

• This prints an asterisk (*) followed by a space in each column.

return 0;

Output:

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