ISO Random - The GNU C Library

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#### 19.8.1 ISO C Random Number Functions

This section describes the random number functions that are part of the ISO C standard.

To use these facilities, you should include the header file `stdlib.h` in your program.

— Macro: int RAND_MAX

> The value of this macro is an integer constant representing the largest value the `rand` function can return. In the GNU library, it is `2147483647`, which is the largest signed integer representable in 32 bits. In other libraries, it may be as low as `32767`.

— Function: int rand (void)

> The `rand` function returns the next pseudo-random number in the series. The value ranges from `0` to `RAND_MAX`.

— Function: void srand (unsigned int seed)

> This function establishes seed as the seed for a new series of pseudo-random numbers. If you call `rand` before a seed has been established with `srand`, it uses the value `1` as a default seed.

> To produce a different pseudo-random series each time your program is run, do `srand (time (0))`.

POSIX.1 extended the C standard functions to support reproducible random numbers in multi-threaded programs. However, the extension is badly designed and unsuitable for serious work.

— Function: int rand_r (unsigned int *seed)

> This function returns a random number in the range 0 to `RAND_MAX` just as `rand` does. However, all its state is stored in the seed argument. This means the RNG's state can only have as many bits as the type `unsigned int` has. This is far too few to provide a good RNG.

> If your program requires a reentrant RNG, we recommend you use the reentrant GNU extensions to the SVID random number generator. The POSIX.1 interface should only be used when the GNU extensions are not available.