Algorithm for iterating over an outward spiral on a discrete 2D grid from the origin

Question

For example, here is the shape of intended spiral (and each step of the iteration)

          y
          |
          |
   16 15 14 13 12
   17  4  3  2 11
--         


        

Answer 1

I had a similar problem, but I didn't want to loop over the entire spiral each time to find the next new coordinate. The requirement is that you know your last coordinate.

Here is what I came up with with a lot of reading up on the other solutions:

function getNextCoord(coord) {

    // required info
    var x     = coord.x,
        y     = coord.y,
        level = Math.max(Math.abs(x), Math.abs(y));
        delta = {x:0, y:0};

    // calculate current direction (start up)
    if (-x === level)
        delta.y = 1;    // going up
    else if (y === level)
        delta.x = 1;    // going right
    else if (x === level)        
        delta.y = -1;    // going down
    else if (-y === level)
        delta.x = -1;    // going left

    // check if we need to turn down or left
    if (x > 0 && (x === y || x === -y)) {
        // change direction (clockwise)
        delta = {x: delta.y, 
                 y: -delta.x};
    }

    // move to next coordinate
    x += delta.x;
    y += delta.y;

    return {x: x,
            y: y};
}

coord = {x: 0, y: 0}
for (i = 0; i < 40; i++) {
    console.log('['+ coord.x +', ' + coord.y + ']');
    coord = getNextCoord(coord);  

}

Still not sure if it is the most elegant solution. Perhaps some elegant maths could remove some of the if statements. Some limitations would be needing some modification to change spiral direction, doesn't take into account non-square spirals and can't spiral around a fixed coordinate.