Description

The random function generates pseudo-random numbers.

Syntax

Use the following function to generate a random number:

random(max)
random(min, max)

Parameters

The function admits the following parameters:

min: lower bound of the random value, inclusive (optional)
max: upper bound of the random value, exclusive

Returns

The function returns a random number between min and max-1. Data type: long.

Example Code

The code generates random numbers using the different variants of the function and prints them in the Serial Monitor.

long randNumber;

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);

  // if analog input pin 0 is unconnected, random analog
  // noise will cause the call to randomSeed() to generate
  // different seed numbers each time the sketch runs.
  // randomSeed() will then shuffle the random function.
  randomSeed(analogRead(0));
}

void loop() {
  // print a random number from 0 to 299
  randNumber = random(300);
  Serial.println(randNumber);

  // print a random number from 10 to 19
  randNumber = random(10, 20);
  Serial.println(randNumber);

  delay(50);
}

Notes and Warnings

If it is important for a sequence of values generated by random() to differ, on subsequent executions of a sketch, use randomSeed() to initialize the random number generator with a fairly random input, such as analogRead() on an unconnected pin.

Conversely, it can occasionally be useful to use pseudo-random sequences that repeat exactly. This can be accomplished by calling randomSeed() with a fixed number, before starting the random sequence.