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Random Constructor (Int32)

.NET Framework 1.1

Initializes a new instance of the Random class, using the specified seed value.

[Visual Basic]
Public Sub New( _
   ByVal Seed As Integer _
)
[C#]
public Random(
   int Seed
);
[C++]
public: Random(
   int Seed
);
[JScript]
public function Random(
   Seed : int
);

Parameters

Seed
A number used to calculate a starting value for the pseudo-random number sequence.

Remarks

If your application requires different random number sequences, invoke this constructor repeatedly with different seed values. One way to produce a unique seed value is to make it time-dependent. For example, derive the seed value from the system clock.

However, if your application runs on a fast computer the system clock might not have time to change between invocations of this constructor; the seed value might be the same for different instances of Random. In that case, apply an algorithm to differentiate the seed value in each invocation.

For instance, the following C# expressions use a bitwise complement operation to generate two different seed values even if the system time value is the same.

Random rdm1 = new Random(unchecked((int)DateTime.Now.Ticks));

Random rdm2 = new Random(~unchecked((int)DateTime.Now.Ticks));

Example

[Visual Basic, C#, C++] The following code example creates Random objects with the class constructor that takes a seed parameter and generates a sequence of random Int32 and Double values. The example illustrates that the same sequence is generated when the Random object is created again with the constructor and seed parameter.

[Visual Basic] 
' Example of the Random class constructors and Random.NextDouble( ) 
' method.
Imports System
Imports System.Threading
Imports Microsoft.VisualBasic

Module RandomObjectDemo

    ' Generate random numbers from the specified Random object.
    Sub RunIntNDoubleRandoms( randObj As Random )

        ' Generate the first six random integers.
        Dim j As Integer
        For j = 0 To 5
            Console.Write( " {0,10} ", randObj.Next( ) )
        Next j
        Console.WriteLine( )
            
        ' Generate the first six random doubles.
        For j = 0 To 5
            Console.Write( " {0:F8} ", randObj.NextDouble( ) )
        Next j
        Console.WriteLine( )
    End Sub 
        
    ' Create a Random object with the specified seed.
    Sub FixedSeedRandoms( seed As Integer )

        Console.WriteLine( vbCrLf & _
            "Random numbers from a Random object with " & _
            "seed = {0}:", seed )
        Dim fixRand As New Random( seed )
            
        RunIntNDoubleRandoms( fixRand )
    End Sub 
        
    ' Create a random object with a timer-generated seed.
    Sub AutoSeedRandoms( )

        ' Wait to allow the timer to advance.
        Thread.Sleep( 1 )
            
        Console.WriteLine( vbCrLf & _
            "Random numbers from a Random object " & _ 
            "with an auto-generated seed:" )
        Dim autoRand As New Random( )
            
        RunIntNDoubleRandoms( autoRand )
    End Sub 
        
    Sub Main( )
        Console.WriteLine( _
            "This example of the Random class constructors " & _
            "and Random.NextDouble( ) " & vbCrLf & _
            "generates the following output." & vbCrLf )
        Console.WriteLine( "Create Random " & _
            "objects, and then generate and display six " & _
            "integers and " & vbCrLf & "six doubles from each." )
            
        FixedSeedRandoms( 123 )
        FixedSeedRandoms( 123 )
            
        FixedSeedRandoms( 456 )
        FixedSeedRandoms( 456 )
            
        AutoSeedRandoms( )
        AutoSeedRandoms( )
        AutoSeedRandoms( )
    End Sub
End Module 

' This example of the Random class constructors and Random.NextDouble( )
' generates the following output.
' 
' Create Random objects, and then generate and display six integers and
' six doubles from each.
' 
' Random numbers from a Random object with seed = 123:
'  2114319875  1949518561  1596751841  1742987178  1586516133   103755708
'  0.01700087  0.14935942  0.19470390  0.63008947  0.90976122  0.49519146
' 
' Random numbers from a Random object with seed = 123:
'  2114319875  1949518561  1596751841  1742987178  1586516133   103755708
'  0.01700087  0.14935942  0.19470390  0.63008947  0.90976122  0.49519146
' 
' Random numbers from a Random object with seed = 456:
'  2044805024  1323311594  1087799997  1907260840   179380355   120870348
'  0.21988117  0.21026556  0.39236514  0.42420498  0.24102703  0.47310170
' 
' Random numbers from a Random object with seed = 456:
'  2044805024  1323311594  1087799997  1907260840   179380355   120870348
'  0.21988117  0.21026556  0.39236514  0.42420498  0.24102703  0.47310170
' 
' Random numbers from a Random object with an auto-generated seed:
'  1920831619  1346865774  2006582766  1968819760   332463652   110770792
'  0.71326689  0.50383335  0.50446082  0.66312569  0.94517193  0.58059287
' 
' Random numbers from a Random object with an auto-generated seed:
'   254927927  1205531663  1984850027   110020849  1438111494  1697714106
'  0.19383387  0.52067738  0.74162783  0.35063667  0.31247720  0.38773733
' 
' Random numbers from a Random object with an auto-generated seed:
'   736507882  1064197552  1963117288   398705585   396275689  1137173773
'  0.67440084  0.53752140  0.97879483  0.03814764  0.67978248  0.19488178

[C#] 
// Example of the Random class constructors and Random.NextDouble( ) 
// method.
using System;
using System.Threading;

public class RandomObjectDemo  
{
    // Generate random numbers from the specified Random object.
    static void RunIntNDoubleRandoms( Random randObj )
    {
        // Generate the first six random integers.
        for( int j = 0; j < 6; j++ )
            Console.Write( " {0,10} ", randObj.Next( ) );
        Console.WriteLine( );

        // Generate the first six random doubles.
        for( int j = 0; j < 6; j++ )
            Console.Write( " {0:F8} ", randObj.NextDouble( ) );
        Console.WriteLine( );
    }

    // Create a Random object with the specified seed.
    static void FixedSeedRandoms( int seed )
    {
        Console.WriteLine( 
            "\nRandom numbers from a Random object with " +
            "seed = {0}:", seed );
        Random fixRand = new Random( seed );

        RunIntNDoubleRandoms( fixRand );
    }

    // Create a random object with a timer-generated seed.
    static void AutoSeedRandoms( )
    {
        // Wait to allow the timer to advance.
        Thread.Sleep( 1 );

        Console.WriteLine( 
            "\nRandom numbers from a Random object " +
            "with an auto-generated seed:" );
        Random autoRand = new Random( );

        RunIntNDoubleRandoms( autoRand );
    }

    static void Main( )
    {    
        Console.WriteLine(
            "This example of the Random class constructors and " +
            "Random.NextDouble( ) \n" +
            "generates the following output.\n" );
        Console.WriteLine(
            "Create Random objects, and then generate and " +
            "display six integers and \nsix doubles from each.");

        FixedSeedRandoms( 123 );
        FixedSeedRandoms( 123 );

        FixedSeedRandoms( 456 );
        FixedSeedRandoms( 456 );

        AutoSeedRandoms( );
        AutoSeedRandoms( );
        AutoSeedRandoms( );
    }
}

/*
This example of the Random class constructors and Random.NextDouble( )
generates the following output.

Create Random objects, and then generate and display six integers and
six doubles from each.

Random numbers from a Random object with seed = 123:
 2114319875  1949518561  1596751841  1742987178  1586516133   103755708
 0.01700087  0.14935942  0.19470390  0.63008947  0.90976122  0.49519146

Random numbers from a Random object with seed = 123:
 2114319875  1949518561  1596751841  1742987178  1586516133   103755708
 0.01700087  0.14935942  0.19470390  0.63008947  0.90976122  0.49519146

Random numbers from a Random object with seed = 456:
 2044805024  1323311594  1087799997  1907260840   179380355   120870348
 0.21988117  0.21026556  0.39236514  0.42420498  0.24102703  0.47310170

Random numbers from a Random object with seed = 456:
 2044805024  1323311594  1087799997  1907260840   179380355   120870348
 0.21988117  0.21026556  0.39236514  0.42420498  0.24102703  0.47310170

Random numbers from a Random object with an auto-generated seed:
  380213349   127379247  1969091178  1983029819  1963098450  1648433124
 0.08824121  0.41249688  0.36445811  0.05637512  0.62702451  0.49595560

Random numbers from a Random object with an auto-generated seed:
  861793304  2133528783  1947358439   124230908   921262645  1087892791
 0.56880819  0.42934091  0.60162512  0.74388610  0.99432979  0.30310005

Random numbers from a Random object with an auto-generated seed:
 1343373259  1992194672  1925625700   412915644  2026910487   527352458
 0.04937517  0.44618494  0.83879212  0.43139707  0.36163507  0.11024451
*/

[C++] 
// Example of the Random class constructors and Random::NextDouble( ) 
// method.
#using <mscorlib.dll>
using namespace System;
using namespace System::Threading;

// Generate random numbers from the specified Random object.
void RunIntNDoubleRandoms( Random* randObj )
{
    // Generate the first six random integers.
    for( int j = 0; j < 6; j++ )
        Console::Write( S" {0,10} ", __box( randObj->Next( ) ) );
    Console::WriteLine( );

    // Generate the first six random doubles.
    for( int j = 0; j < 6; j++ )
        Console::Write( S" {0:F8} ", 
            __box( randObj->NextDouble( ) ) );
    Console::WriteLine( );
}

// Create a Random object with the specified seed.
void FixedSeedRandoms( int seed )
{
    Console::WriteLine( 
        S"\nRandom numbers from a Random object with seed = {0}:", 
        __box( seed ) );
    Random* fixRand = new Random( seed );

    RunIntNDoubleRandoms( fixRand );
}

// Create a random object with a timer-generated seed.
void AutoSeedRandoms( )
{
    // Wait to allow the timer to advance.
    Thread::Sleep( 1 );

    Console::WriteLine( 
        S"\nRandom numbers from a Random object " 
        S"with an auto-generated seed:" );
    Random* autoRand = new Random( );

    RunIntNDoubleRandoms( autoRand );
}

void main( )
{    
    Console::WriteLine(
        S"This example of the Random class constructors and Random" 
        S"::NextDouble( ) \ngenerates the following output.\n" );
    Console::WriteLine(
        S"Create Random objects, and then generate and " 
        S"display six integers and \nsix doubles from each." );

    FixedSeedRandoms( 123 );
    FixedSeedRandoms( 123 );

    FixedSeedRandoms( 456 );
    FixedSeedRandoms( 456 );

    AutoSeedRandoms( );
    AutoSeedRandoms( );
    AutoSeedRandoms( );
}

/*
This example of the Random class constructors and Random::NextDouble( )
generates the following output.

Create Random objects, and then generate and display six integers and
six doubles from each.

Random numbers from a Random object with seed = 123:
 2114319875  1949518561  1596751841  1742987178  1586516133   103755708
 0.01700087  0.14935942  0.19470390  0.63008947  0.90976122  0.49519146

Random numbers from a Random object with seed = 123:
 2114319875  1949518561  1596751841  1742987178  1586516133   103755708
 0.01700087  0.14935942  0.19470390  0.63008947  0.90976122  0.49519146

Random numbers from a Random object with seed = 456:
 2044805024  1323311594  1087799997  1907260840   179380355   120870348
 0.21988117  0.21026556  0.39236514  0.42420498  0.24102703  0.47310170

Random numbers from a Random object with seed = 456:
 2044805024  1323311594  1087799997  1907260840   179380355   120870348
 0.21988117  0.21026556  0.39236514  0.42420498  0.24102703  0.47310170

Random numbers from a Random object with an auto-generated seed:
 1624372556  1894939458   302472229   588108304    23919954  1085111949
 0.14595512  0.30162298  0.92267372  0.55707657  0.25430079  0.74143239

Random numbers from a Random object with an auto-generated seed:
 2105952511  1753605347   280739490   876793040  1129567796   524571616
 0.62652210  0.31846701  0.15984073  0.24458755  0.62160607  0.54857684

Random numbers from a Random object with an auto-generated seed:
  440048819  1612271236   259006751  1165477776    87731991  2111514930
 0.10708907  0.33531104  0.39700773  0.93209853  0.98891135  0.35572129
*/

[JScript] No example is available for JScript. To view a Visual Basic, C#, or C++ example, click the Language Filter button Language Filter in the upper-left corner of the page.

Requirements

Platforms: Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 2000, Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional, Windows Server 2003 family, .NET Compact Framework, Common Language Infrastructure (CLI) Standard

See Also

Random Class | Random Members | System Namespace | Random Constructor Overload List

Syntax based on .NET Framework version 1.1.
Documentation version 1.1.1.

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