ISO Random (The GNU C Library)

#### 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 C 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)` ¶

  Preliminary: | MT-Safe | AS-Unsafe lock | AC-Unsafe lock | See POSIX Safety Concepts.

  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)` ¶

  Preliminary: | MT-Safe | AS-Unsafe lock | AC-Unsafe lock | See POSIX Safety Concepts.

  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)` ¶

  Preliminary: | MT-Safe | AS-Safe | AC-Safe | See POSIX Safety Concepts.

  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.