Random Number Generator

Randomness is a fascinating and complex concept in computing. In the physical world, flipping a coin or rolling a die produces "true" randomness. Computers, however, are deterministic machines—they follow instructions. So how do they generate random numbers?

The Difference

• Pseudo-Random Number Generators (PRNGs): Most applications (like video games or this simple tool) use algorithms that produce a sequence of numbers that look random but are actually determined by a starting "seed" value. If you know the seed and the algorithm, you can predict every number.
• True Random Number Generators (TRNGs): Used in high-security cryptography. These rely on unpredictable physical phenomena, such as atmospheric noise, thermal noise from a CPU, or radioactive decay, to generate numbers that are truly impossible to predict.

Why It Matters

For picking a lottery winner, shuffling a playlist, or deciding who goes first in a board game, a PRNG is perfect. But for securing your bank account or encrypting military communications, only "True" randomness is safe enough to prevent hackers from guessing your keys.