Random Class
Represents a pseudo-random number generator, a device that produces a sequence of numbers that meet certain statistical requirements for randomness.
Assembly: mscorlib (in mscorlib.dll)
The Random type exposes the following members.
| Name | Description | |
|---|---|---|
![]() ![]() ![]() | Random() | Initializes a new instance of the Random class, using a time-dependent default seed value. |
![]() ![]() ![]() | Random(Int32) | Initializes a new instance of the Random class, using the specified seed value. |
| Name | Description | |
|---|---|---|
![]() ![]() ![]() | Equals(Object) | Determines whether the specified Object is equal to the current Object. (Inherited from Object.) |
![]() ![]() ![]() | Finalize | Allows an object to try to free resources and perform other cleanup operations before it is reclaimed by garbage collection. (Inherited from Object.) |
![]() ![]() ![]() | GetHashCode | Serves as a hash function for a particular type. (Inherited from Object.) |
![]() ![]() ![]() | GetType | Gets the Type of the current instance. (Inherited from Object.) |
![]() ![]() ![]() | MemberwiseClone | Creates a shallow copy of the current Object. (Inherited from Object.) |
![]() ![]() ![]() | Next() | Returns a nonnegative random number. |
![]() ![]() ![]() | Next(Int32) | Returns a nonnegative random number less than the specified maximum. |
![]() ![]() ![]() | Next(Int32, Int32) | Returns a random number within a specified range. |
![]() ![]() ![]() | NextBytes | Fills the elements of a specified array of bytes with random numbers. |
![]() ![]() ![]() | NextDouble | Returns a random number between 0.0 and 1.0. |
![]() ![]() ![]() | Sample | Returns a random number between 0.0 and 1.0. |
![]() ![]() ![]() | ToString | Returns a string that represents the current object. (Inherited from Object.) |
Pseudo-random numbers are chosen with equal probability from a finite set of numbers. The chosen numbers are not completely random because a definite mathematical algorithm is used to select them, but they are sufficiently random for practical purposes. The current implementation of the Random class is based on a modified version of Donald E. Knuth's subtractive random number generator algorithm. For more information, see D. E. Knuth. "The Art of Computer Programming, volume 2: Seminumerical Algorithms". Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, second edition, 1981.
The random number generation starts from a seed value. If the same seed is used repeatedly, the same series of numbers is generated. One way to produce different sequences is to make the seed value time-dependent, thereby producing a different series with each new instance of Random. By default, the parameterless constructor of the Random class uses the system clock to generate its seed value, while its parameterized constructor can take an Int32 value based on the number of ticks in the current time. However, because the clock has finite resolution, using the parameterless constructor to create different Random objects in close succession creates random number generators that produce identical sequences of random numbers. The following example illustrates that two Random objects that are instantiated in close succession generate an identical series of random numbers.
This problem can be avoided by creating a single Random object rather than multiple ones.
To improve performance, create one Random object to generate many random numbers over time, instead of repeatedly creating a new Random objects to generate one random number.
To generate a cryptographically secure random number suitable for creating a random password, for example, use a class derived from System.Security.Cryptography::RandomNumberGenerator such as System.Security.Cryptography::RNGCryptoServiceProvider.
Notes to CallersThe implementation of the random number generator in the Random class is not guaranteed to remain the same across major versions of the .NET Framework. As a result, your application code should not assume that the same seed will result in the same pseudo-random sequence in different versions of the .NET Framework.
Notes to InheritorsIn the .NET Framework versions 1.0 and 1.1, a minimum implementation of a class derived from Random required overriding the Sample method to define a new or modified algorithm for generating random numbers. The derived class could then rely on the base class implementation of the Random::Next(), Random::Next(Int32), Random::Next(Int32, Int32), NextBytes, and NextDouble methods to call the derived class implementation of the Sample method.
In the .NET Framework version 2.0 and later, the behavior of the Random::Next(), Random::Next(Int32, Int32), and NextBytes methods have changed so that these methods do not necessarily call the derived class implementation of the Sample method. As a result, classes derived from Random that target the .NET Framework 2.0 and later should also override these three methods.
Windows 7, Windows Vista SP1 or later, Windows XP SP3, Windows XP SP2 x64 Edition, Windows Server 2008 (Server Core not supported), Windows Server 2008 R2 (Server Core supported with SP1 or later), Windows Server 2003 SP2
The .NET Framework does not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.



