Java Program to Print Pyramid Star Pattern

Last Updated : 22 Jan, 2026

Printing star patterns in Java is a fundamental exercise for loops, recursion, and output formatting. Below are different types of pyramid and star patterns, along with concise explanations.

1. Simple Pyramid Pattern

Java 
public class GFG {
    public static void PyramidStar(int n) {
        for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
            for (int j = 0; j <= i; j++) System.out.print("* ");
            System.out.println();
        }
    }
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        PyramidStar(5);
    }
}

Output
* 
* * 
* * * 
* * * * 
* * * * *

Explanation:

  • The outer loop iterates through the number of rows (n).
  • The inner loop prints stars (* ) for each row corresponding to the current row number.
  • System.out.println() moves to the next line after printing stars for a row.

Recursive Approach

Java 
class GFG {
    public static void printRow(int n) {
        if (n == 0) return;
        System.out.print("* ");
        printRow(n - 1);
    }
    public static void changeRow(int n) {
        if (n == 0) return;
        changeRow(n - 1);
        printRow(n);
        System.out.println();
    }
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        changeRow(5);
    }
}

Output
* 
* * 
* * * 
* * * * 
* * * * *

Explanation:

  • printRow(n) prints n stars recursively for a single row.
  • changeRow(n) recursively handles the rows, calling printRow(n) after processing previous rows.
  • System.out.println() moves to the next line after each row.

2. 180° Rotated / Mirrored Pyramid

Java 
public class GFG {
    public static void FlippedPyramidStar(int n) {
        for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
            for (int j = 2 * (n - i); j >= 0; j--) System.out.print(" ");
            for (int j = 0; j <= i; j++) System.out.print("* ");
            System.out.println();
        }
    }
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        FlippedPyramidStar(5);
    }
}

Output
           * 
         * * 
       * * * 
     * * * * 
   * * * * *

Explanation:

  • The first inner loop prints spaces to align the stars to the right.
  • The second inner loop prints stars corresponding to the current row number.
  • System.out.println() moves to the next line after each row.

3. Triangle Star Pattern

Java 
public class GFG {
    public static void printTriangle(int n) {
        for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
            for (int j = n - i; j > 1; j--) System.out.print(" ");
            for (int j = 0; j <= i; j++) System.out.print("* ");
            System.out.println();
        }
    }
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        printTriangle(5);
    }
}

Output
    * 
   * * 
  * * * 
 * * * * 
* * * * *

Explanation:

  • The first inner loop prints spaces to align stars to the right.
  • The second inner loop prints stars corresponding to the current row number.
  • System.out.println() moves to the next line after each row.

4. Square Star Pattern

Java 
class GFG {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
            for (int j = 0; j < 5; j++) System.out.print("*");
            System.out.println();
        }
    }
}

Output
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****

Explanation:

  • The outer loop runs for 5 rows.
  • The inner loop prints 5 stars (*) in each row.
  • System.out.println() moves the cursor to the next line after completing one row.

5. Inverted Pyramid Pattern

Example 1: This code prints an inverted pyramid pattern with a decreasing number of stars per row.

Java 
class GFG {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int n = 5;
        for (int i = n; i >= 1; i--) {
            for (int j = i; j >= 1; j--) System.out.print("* ");
            System.out.println();
        }
    }
}

Output
* * * * * 
* * * * 
* * * 
* * 
*

Explanation:

  • n defines the total number of rows in the pattern.
  • The outer loop runs from n down to 1, reducing the number of stars in each row.
  • The inner loop prints i stars (* ) in the current row.
  • System.out.println() moves to the next line after each row.

Example 2: This code prints an inverted pyramid star pattern using recursion.

Java 
class GFG {
    public static void printRow(int n) {
        if (n == 0) return;
        System.out.print("* ");
        printRow(n - 1);
    }
    public static void changeRow(int n) {
        if (n == 0) return;
        printRow(n);
        System.out.println();
        changeRow(n - 1);
    }
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        changeRow(5);
    }
}

Output
* * * * * 
* * * * 
* * * 
* * 
*

Explanation:

  • printRow(int n) recursively prints n stars in a single row.
  • The base case n == 0 stops the recursion.
  • changeRow(int n) controls the number of rows printed.
  • It first prints a row with n stars, then moves to the next line.
  • The recursive call changeRow(n - 1) reduces the number of stars in each subsequent row.

Complexity Analysis

Pattern Type

Time Complexity

Auxiliary Space

Iterative Pyramid/Triangle

O(n²)

O(1)

Recursive Pyramid/Triangle

O(n²)

O(n) (stack)

Mirrored Pyramid

O(n²)

O(1)

Square/Rectangle Star Pattern

O(n²)

O(1)

Inverted Pyramid

O(n²)

O(1) or O(n)

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