Program to Print the Squared Matrix in Z form in C

In C programming, printing a squared matrix in Z form means displaying the elements in a specific pattern − first the top row, then the diagonal elements from top-right to bottom-left, and finally the bottom row. This creates a Z-shaped traversal pattern through the matrix.

Syntax

/* Z-form traversal pattern */
// First row: matrix[0][0] to matrix[0][n-1]
// Diagonal: matrix[i][n-1-i] where i goes from 1 to n-2
// Last row: matrix[n-1][1] to matrix[n-1][n-1]

Algorithm

The Z-form traversal follows these steps −

1. Print all elements of the first row
2. Print diagonal elements from top-right to bottom-left (excluding corners)
3. Print all elements of the last row (excluding first element to avoid duplication)

Example

Here's a complete program to print a square matrix in Z form −

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int n, i, j;
    int matrix[10][10];
    
    printf("Enter the size of square matrix: ");
    scanf("%d", &n);
    
    printf("Enter the elements of the matrix:<br>");
    for(i = 0; i < n; i++) {
        for(j = 0; j < n; j++) {
            scanf("%d", &matrix[i][j]);
        }
    }
    
    printf("\nOriginal Matrix:<br>");
    for(i = 0; i < n; i++) {
        for(j = 0; j < n; j++) {
            printf("%d\t", matrix[i][j]);
        }
        printf("<br>");
    }
    
    printf("\nZ-form traversal: ");
    
    /* Print first row */
    for(j = 0; j < n; j++) {
        printf("%d ", matrix[0][j]);
    }
    
    /* Print diagonal elements (excluding corners) */
    for(i = 1; i < n-1; i++) {
        printf("%d ", matrix[i][n-1-i]);
    }
    
    /* Print last row (excluding first element) */
    if(n > 1) {
        for(j = 1; j < n; j++) {
            printf("%d ", matrix[n-1][j]);
        }
    }
    
    printf("<br>");
    return 0;
}

Enter the size of square matrix: 4
Enter the elements of the matrix:
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16

Original Matrix:
1	2	3	4	
5	6	7	8	
9	10	11	12	
13	14	15	16	

Z-form traversal: 1 2 3 4 7 10 14 15 16

Key Points

• The algorithm works only for square matrices (n × n)
• For a 1×1 matrix, only the single element is printed
• The diagonal traversal goes from matrix[1][n-2] to matrix[n-2][1]
• Care is taken to avoid printing corner elements twice

Conclusion

The Z-form matrix traversal is an efficient way to print matrix elements in a specific pattern. It demonstrates array indexing and loop control techniques essential for matrix operations in C programming.