How does a computer program generate random numbers? Example: when you ask Siri to give you a random number between 1 to 10, how does it come up with that number?
In: Mathematics
“Random” in this case means that the results could never be recreated or duplicated. This isn’t how computers work. As u/km89 stated, they seed an algorithm with numbers that influence the output. If you seed the same numbers, you’ll get the same output.
In most cases, though, this is more than sufficient. The seed could be the precise date and time + the geolocation of the device + the CPU temperature and measure of ambient sound near the PC and your number is going to be hella “random”…but if you know the inputs and put them into the same mathematical calculation, you’ll get the same output.
In a more ELI5 answer, Siri were to generate their random number based upon the precise date and time it was asked, everyone in that same time zone, asking the same question, at the exact same time, would get the same “random” answer. Fortunately, the basis for random number generation is more complex than that.
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