NAME

rand, srand − random number generator

SYNOPSIS

srand(seed)
int seed;

rand()

DESCRIPTION

The newer random(3) should be used in new applications; rand remains for compatibilty. 

Rand uses a multiplicative congruential random number generator with period 232 to return successive pseudo-random numbers in the range from 0 to 231−1. 

The generator is reinitialized by calling srand with 1 as argument.  It can be set to a random starting point by calling srand with whatever you like as argument. 

SEE ALSO

random(3)

BUGS

The low bits of the numbers generated are not very random; use the middle bits.  In particular the lowest bit is deterministically alternatingly 0 and 1. 

Sun System Release 1.0  —  23 August 1983