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 PRNGs 3 True number generators 4 See also 5 External links

[edit] Pseudorandom number generators (PRNGs)

The following algorithms are pseudorandom number generators:

• Blum Blum Shub
• Inversive congruential generator
• ISAAC
• Lagged Fibonacci generator
• Linear congruential generator - the most common type in computer programming languages
• Linear feedback shift register
• Mersenne twister

[edit] Cryptographic PRNGs

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

• Block ciphers in counter mode
• Cryptographic hashes in counter mode
• Stream ciphers

[edit] True number generators

The following include some source of information entropy, allowing them to be considered true random number generators.

• CryptGenRandom - Microsoft Windows
• Fortuna
• SecureRandom class in the Java programming language
• Yarrow - Mac OS X and FreeBSD
• /dev/random - Linux and Unix

[edit] See also

• Diceware
• Hardware random number generator
• Random number generator attack
• Randomness

[edit] External links

• Random Number Generation in the GNU Scientific Library Reference Manual
• Diehard tests - statistical test suite for random number generators.