how do random numbers on computers work?

Question

For example, is there a formula for a random number?

In: 47

Answer 1

In simplest terms they are formulas, but to get the “random” output the program uses what’s called a “seed”. This in very simple RNGs this is just the time, others will add mouse movements and button inputs to make it “feel” more random.

In the most advance ones, particularly the ones generating encryption keys, will actually use real world phenomena as parts of the seed.