---
name: "rand"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "man-pages"
version: "6.19-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/rand/3"
---

# rand(3)

pseudo-random number generator

## NAME

rand, rand\_r, srand - pseudo-random number generator

## LIBRARY

Standard C library (*libc*, *-lc*)

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <stdlib.h>
```

**int rand(void);** **void srand(unsigned int** *seed***);**

**\[\[deprecated\]\] int rand\_r(unsigned int \****seedp***);**

Feature Test Macro Requirements for glibc (see [**feature\_test\_macros**(7)](/feature_test_macros/7.md)):

**rand\_r**():

```
    Since glibc 2.24:
        _POSIX_C_SOURCE >= 199506L
    glibc 2.23 and earlier
        _POSIX_C_SOURCE
```

## DESCRIPTION

The **rand**() function returns a pseudo-random integer in the range 0 to **RAND\_MAX** inclusive (i.e., the mathematical range \[**0**, **RAND\_MAX**\]).

The **srand**() function sets its argument as the seed for a new sequence of pseudo-random integers to be returned by **rand**(). These sequences are repeatable by calling **srand**() with the same seed value.

If no seed value is provided, the **rand**() function is automatically seeded with a value of 1.

The function **rand**() is not reentrant, since it uses hidden state that is modified on each call. This might just be the seed value to be used by the next call, or it might be something more elaborate. In order to get reproducible behavior in a threaded application, this state must be made explicit; this can be done using the reentrant function **rand\_r**().

Like **rand**(), **rand\_r**() returns a pseudo-random integer in the range \[**0**, **RAND\_MAX**\]. The *seedp* argument is a pointer to an *unsigned int* that is used to store state between calls. If **rand\_r**() is called with the same initial value for the integer pointed to by *seedp*, and that value is not modified between calls, then the same pseudo-random sequence will result.

The value pointed to by the *seedp* argument of **rand\_r**() provides only a very small amount of state, so this function will be a weak pseudo-random generator. Try [**drand48\_r**(3)](/drand48_r/3.md) instead.

## RETURN VALUE

The **rand**() and **rand\_r**() functions return a value between 0 and **RAND\_MAX** (inclusive). The **srand**() function returns no value.

## ATTRIBUTES

For an explanation of the terms used in this section, see [**attributes**(7)](/attributes/7.md).

| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Interface** | **Attribute** | **Value** |
| **rand**(), **rand\_r**(), **srand**() | Thread safety | MT-Safe |

## VERSIONS

The versions of **rand**() and **srand**() in the Linux C Library use the same random number generator as [**random**(3)](/random/3.md) and [**srandom**(3)](/srandom/3.md), so the lower-order bits should be as random as the higher-order bits. However, on older **rand**() implementations, and on current implementations on different systems, the lower-order bits are much less random than the higher-order bits. Do not use this function in applications intended to be portable when good randomness is needed. (Use [**random**(3)](/random/3.md) instead.)

## STANDARDS

- **rand**() **srand**()

  C11, POSIX.1-2008.

- **rand\_r**()

  POSIX.1-2008.

## HISTORY

- **rand**() **srand**()

  SVr4, 4.3BSD, C89, POSIX.1-2001.

- **rand\_r**()

  POSIX.1-2001. Obsolete in POSIX.1-2008.

## EXAMPLES

POSIX.1-2001 gives the following example of an implementation of **rand**() and **srand**(), possibly useful when one needs the same sequence on two different machines.

```
static unsigned long next = 1;
/* RAND_MAX assumed to be 32767 */
int myrand(void) {
    next = next * 1103515245 + 12345;
    return((unsigned) (next/65536) % 32768);
}
void mysrand(unsigned int seed) {
    next = seed;
}
```

The following program can be used to display the pseudo-random sequence produced by **rand**() when given a particular seed. When the seed is *-1*, the program uses a random seed.

```
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
int
main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
    int           r;
    unsigned int  seed, nloops;
    if (argc != 3) {
        fprintf(stderr, "Usage: %s <seed> <nloops>\n", argv[0]);
        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
    }
    seed = atoi(argv[1]);
    nloops = atoi(argv[2]);
    if (seed == -1) {
        seed = arc4random();
        printf("seed: %u\n", seed);
    }
    srand(seed);
    for (unsigned int j = 0; j < nloops; j++) {
        r =  rand();
        printf("%d\n", r);
    }
    exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
}
```

## SEE ALSO

[**drand48**(3)](/drand48/3.md), [**random**(3)](/random/3.md)