Random Number Generators
Random Number Generators (RNGs) are algorithms or devices that produce sequences of numbers that lack any predictable pattern, simulating randomness. They are fundamental in computing for applications like cryptography, simulations, gaming, and statistical sampling. RNGs can be hardware-based (true random) or software-based (pseudorandom), with the latter being more common in software development.
Developers should learn about RNGs when building secure systems (e.g., for generating cryptographic keys), creating simulations (e.g., in scientific or financial modeling), or developing games (e.g., for procedural content or random events). Understanding RNGs is crucial for ensuring fairness, unpredictability, and reproducibility in applications that rely on randomness, such as in machine learning for data shuffling or in testing for generating random inputs.