class Solution {

    public int[][] generateMatrix(int n) {

        int[][] matrix = new int[n][n];

        int beginRow = 0, endRow = n - 1;

        int beginCol = 0, endCol = n - 1;

        int num = 1;

        while(beginRow <= endRow && beginCol <= endCol) {

            for(int i = beginCol; i <= endCol; i++) {

                matrix[beginRow][i] = num;

                num += 1;

            }

            beginRow += 1;

            for (int i = beginRow; i <= endRow; i++) {

                matrix[i][endCol] = num;

                num += 1;

            }

            endCol -= 1;

            // no need to check boarder b/c it is square

            for (int i = endCol; i >= beginCol; i--) {

                matrix[endRow][i] = num;

                num += 1;

            }

            endRow -= 1;

            for (int i = endRow; i >= beginRow; i--) {

                matrix[i][beginCol] = num;

                num += 1;

            }

            beginCol += 1;

        }

        return matrix;

    }

}