List of random number generators

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Computer random number generators are important in mathematics, cryptography and gambling. This list includes all common types, regardless of quality.

Contents 1 Pseudorandom number generators (PRNGs) 2 Cryptographic algorithms 3 Well Known PRNG APIs 4 Random number generators that use external entropy 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] Pseudorandom number generators (PRNGs)

The following algorithms are pseudorandom number generators:

• Blum Blum Shub
• Inversive congruential generator
• ISAAC (cipher)
• Lagged Fibonacci generator
• Linear congruential generator - the most common type in computer programming languages
• Linear feedback shift register
• Multiply-with-carry
• Mersenne twister
• Maximal periodic reciprocals
• Xorshift

[edit] Cryptographic algorithms

Cipher algorithms and cryptographic hashes can also be used as pseudorandom number generators. These include

• Block ciphers in counter mode
• Cryptographic hash function in counter mode
• Stream ciphers

[edit] Well Known PRNG APIs

• SecureRandom class [1] in the Java programming language

[edit] Random number generators that use external entropy

• CryptGenRandom - Microsoft Windows
• Fortuna
• Yarrow - Mac OS X and FreeBSD
• /dev/random - Linux and Unix
• LavaRnd - The open-source (LGPL) successor to Lavarand

[edit] See also

• Diceware
• Diehard tests - statistical test suite for random number generators.
• Hardware random number generator
• Random number generator attack
• Randomness

[edit] External links

• Random Number Generation in the GNU Scientific Library Reference Manual