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PROLOG
This manual page is part of the POSIX Programmer's Manual. The Linux implementation of this interface
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NAME
drand48, erand48, jrand48, lcong48, lrand48, mrand48, nrand48, seed48, srand48 — generate uniformly
distributed pseudo-random numbers
SYNOPSIS
#include <stdlib.h>
double drand48(void);
double erand48(unsigned short xsubi[3]);
long jrand48(unsigned short xsubi[3]);
void lcong48(unsigned short param[7]);
long lrand48(void);
long mrand48(void);
long nrand48(unsigned short xsubi[3]);
unsigned short *seed48(unsigned short seed16v[3]);
void srand48(long seedval);
DESCRIPTION
This family of functions shall generate pseudo-random numbers using a linear congruential algorithm and
48-bit integer arithmetic.
The drand48() and erand48() functions shall return non-negative, double-precision, floating-point values,
uniformly distributed over the interval [0.0,1.0).
The lrand48() and nrand48() functions shall return non-negative, long integers, uniformly distributed
over the interval [0,231).
The mrand48() and jrand48() functions shall return signed long integers uniformly distributed over the
interval [-231,231).
The srand48(), seed48(), and lcong48() functions are initialization entry points, one of which should be
invoked before either drand48(), lrand48(), or mrand48() is called. (Although it is not recommended
practice, constant default initializer values shall be supplied automatically if drand48(), lrand48(), or
mrand48() is called without a prior call to an initialization entry point.) The erand48(), nrand48(), and
jrand48() functions do not require an initialization entry point to be called first.
All the routines work by generating a sequence of 48-bit integer values, X_i , according to the linear
congruential formula:
Xn+1 = (aX_n +c)mod m n≥ 0
The parameter m=2^48; hence 48-bit integer arithmetic is performed. Unless lcong48() is invoked, the
multiplier value a and the addend value c are given by:
a = 5DEECE66D16 = 2736731631558
c = B16 = 138
The value returned by any of the drand48(), erand48(), jrand48(), lrand48(), mrand48(), or nrand48()
functions is computed by first generating the next 48-bit X_i in the sequence. Then the appropriate
number of bits, according to the type of data item to be returned, are copied from the high-order
(leftmost) bits of X_i and transformed into the returned value.
The drand48(), lrand48(), and mrand48() functions store the last 48-bit X_i generated in an internal
buffer; that is why the application shall ensure that these are initialized prior to being invoked. The
erand48(), nrand48(), and jrand48() functions require the calling program to provide storage for the
successive X_i values in the array specified as an argument when the functions are invoked. That is why
these routines do not have to be initialized; the calling program merely has to place the desired initial
value of X_i into the array and pass it as an argument. By using different arguments, erand48(),
nrand48(), and jrand48() allow separate modules of a large program to generate several independent
streams of pseudo-random numbers; that is, the sequence of numbers in each stream shall not depend upon
how many times the routines are called to generate numbers for the other streams.
The initializer function srand48() sets the high-order 32 bits of X_i to the low-order 32 bits contained
in its argument. The low-order 16 bits of X_i are set to the arbitrary value 330E_16 .
The initializer function seed48() sets the value of X_i to the 48-bit value specified in the argument
array. The low-order 16 bits of X_i are set to the low-order 16 bits of seed16v[0]. The mid-order 16
bits of X_i are set to the low-order 16 bits of seed16v[1]. The high-order 16 bits of X_i are set to the
low-order 16 bits of seed16v[2]. In addition, the previous value of X_i is copied into a 48-bit internal
buffer, used only by seed48(), and a pointer to this buffer is the value returned by seed48(). This
returned pointer, which can just be ignored if not needed, is useful if a program is to be restarted from
a given point at some future time—use the pointer to get at and store the last X_i value, and then use
this value to reinitialize via seed48() when the program is restarted.
The initializer function lcong48() allows the user to specify the initial X_i , the multiplier value a,
and the addend value c. Argument array elements param[0-2] specify X_i , param[3-5] specify the
multiplier a, and param[6] specifies the 16-bit addend c. After lcong48() is called, a subsequent call to
either srand48() or seed48() shall restore the standard multiplier and addend values, a and c, specified
above.
The drand48(), lrand48(), and mrand48() functions need not be thread-safe.
RETURN VALUE
As described in the DESCRIPTION above.
ERRORS
No errors are defined.
The following sections are informative.
EXAMPLES
None.
APPLICATION USAGE
These functions should be avoided whenever non-trivial requirements (including safety) have to be
fulfilled.
RATIONALE
None.
FUTURE DIRECTIONS
None.
SEE ALSO
initstate(), rand()
The Base Definitions volume of POSIX.1‐2017, <stdlib.h>
COPYRIGHT
Portions of this text are reprinted and reproduced in electronic form from IEEE Std 1003.1-2017, Standard
for Information Technology -- Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX), The Open Group Base
Specifications Issue 7, 2018 Edition, Copyright (C) 2018 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers, Inc and The Open Group. In the event of any discrepancy between this version and the original
IEEE and The Open Group Standard, the original IEEE and The Open Group Standard is the referee document.
The original Standard can be obtained online at http://www.opengroup.org/unix/online.html .
Any typographical or formatting errors that appear in this page are most likely to have been introduced
during the conversion of the source files to man page format. To report such errors, see
https://www.kernel.org/doc/man-pages/reporting_bugs.html .
IEEE/The Open Group 2017 DRAND48(3POSIX)