rand (CRT)

rand

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Run-Time Library Reference

rand

Generates a pseudorandom number.

int rand( void );

Return Value

rand returns a pseudorandom number, as described above. There is no error return.

Remarks

The rand function returns a pseudorandom integer in the range 0 to RAND_MAX. Use the srand function to seed the pseudorandom-number generator before calling rand.

Requirements

Routine	Required header	Compatibility
rand	<stdlib.h>	ANSI, Win 98, Win Me, Win NT, Win 2000, Win XP

For additional compatibility information, see Compatibility in the Introduction.

Libraries

All versions of the C run-time libraries.

Example

// crt_rand.c
/* This program seeds the random-number generator
 * with the time, then displays 10 random integers.
 */

#include <stdlib.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <time.h>

int main( void )
{
   int i;

   /* Seed the random-number generator with current time so that
    * the numbers will be different every time we run.
    */
   srand( (unsigned)time( NULL ) );

   /* Display 10 numbers. */
   for( i = 0;   i < 10;i++ )
      printf( "  %6d\n", rand() );
}

Sample Output

Return Value

Remarks

Requirements

Example

Sample Output

See Also