As the documentation says, this method call returns "a pseudorandom, uniformly distributed int value between 0 (inclusive) and the specified value (exclusive)". This means that you will get numbers from 0 to 9 in your case. So you've done everything correctly by adding one to that number.
Generally speaking, if you need to generate numbers from min to max (including both), you write
random.nextInt(max - min + 1) + min
Answer from Malcolm on Stack OverflowAs the documentation says, this method call returns "a pseudorandom, uniformly distributed int value between 0 (inclusive) and the specified value (exclusive)". This means that you will get numbers from 0 to 9 in your case. So you've done everything correctly by adding one to that number.
Generally speaking, if you need to generate numbers from min to max (including both), you write
random.nextInt(max - min + 1) + min
The standard way to do this is as follows:
Provide:
- min Minimum value
- max Maximum value
and get in return a Integer between min and max, inclusive.
Random rand = new Random();
// nextInt as provided by Random is exclusive of the top value so you need to add 1
int randomNum = rand.nextInt((max - min) + 1) + min;
See the relevant JavaDoc.
As explained by Aurund, Random objects created within a short time of each other will tend to produce similar output, so it would be a good idea to keep the created Random object as a field, rather than in a method.
How do I generate random integers within a specific range in Java? - Stack Overflow
How can I get a random number between 1 and 12?
Java Generate Random Number Between Two Given Values - Stack Overflow
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Java 7+
In Java 1.7 or later, the standard way to do this (generate a basic non-cryptographically secure random integer in the range [min, max]) is as follows:
import java.util.concurrent.ThreadLocalRandom;
// nextInt is normally exclusive of the top value,
// so add 1 to make it inclusive
int randomNum = ThreadLocalRandom.current().nextInt(min, max + 1);
See the relevant JavaDoc. This approach has the advantage of not needing to explicitly initialize a java.util.Random instance, which can be a source of confusion and error if used inappropriately.
However, conversely with ThreadLocalRandom there is no way to explicitly set the seed so it can be difficult to reproduce results in situations where that is useful such as testing or saving game states or similar.
Java 17+
As of Java 17, the psuedorandom number generating classes in the standard library implement the RandomGenerator interface. See the linked JavaDoc for more information. For example, if a cryptographically strong random number generator is desired, the SecureRandom class can be used.
Earlier Java
Before Java 1.7, the standard way to do this is as follows:
import java.util.Random;
/**
* Returns a pseudo-random number between min and max, inclusive.
* The difference between min and max can be at most
* <code>Integer.MAX_VALUE - 1</code>.
*
* @param min Minimum value
* @param max Maximum value. Must be greater than min.
* @return Integer between min and max, inclusive.
* @see java.util.Random#nextInt(int)
*/
public static int randInt(int min, int max) {
// NOTE: This will (intentionally) not run as written so that folks
// copy-pasting have to think about how to initialize their
// Random instance. Initialization of the Random instance is outside
// the main scope of the question, but some decent options are to have
// a field that is initialized once and then re-used as needed or to
// use ThreadLocalRandom (if using at least Java 1.7).
//
// In particular, do NOT do 'Random rand = new Random()' here or you
// will get not very good / not very random results.
Random rand;
// nextInt is normally exclusive of the top value,
// so add 1 to make it inclusive
int randomNum = rand.nextInt((max - min) + 1) + min;
return randomNum;
}
See the relevant JavaDoc. In practice, the java.util.Random class is often preferable to java.lang.Math.random().
In particular, there is no need to reinvent the random integer generation wheel when there is a straightforward API within the standard library to accomplish the task.
Note that this approach is more biased and less efficient than a nextInt approach, https://stackoverflow.com/a/738651/360211
One standard pattern for accomplishing this is:
Min + (int)(Math.random() * ((Max - Min) + 1))
The Java Math library function Math.random() generates a double value in the range [0,1). Notice this range does not include the 1.
In order to get a specific range of values first, you need to multiply by the magnitude of the range of values you want covered.
Math.random() * ( Max - Min )
This returns a value in the range [0,Max-Min), where 'Max-Min' is not included.
For example, if you want [5,10), you need to cover five integer values so you use
Math.random() * 5
This would return a value in the range [0,5), where 5 is not included.
Now you need to shift this range up to the range that you are targeting. You do this by adding the Min value.
Min + (Math.random() * (Max - Min))
You now will get a value in the range [Min,Max). Following our example, that means [5,10):
5 + (Math.random() * (10 - 5))
But, this still doesn't include Max and you are getting a double value. In order to get the Max value included, you need to add 1 to your range parameter (Max - Min) and then truncate the decimal part by casting to an int. This is accomplished via:
Min + (int)(Math.random() * ((Max - Min) + 1))
And there you have it. A random integer value in the range [Min,Max], or per the example [5,10]:
5 + (int)(Math.random() * ((10 - 5) + 1))
I know I can use the randomizer but how do I get it to be between 1 and 12 instead of 0 and 1? I donโt need an answer in code, but please help me with how I can make it work.
You could use e.g. r.nextInt(101)
For a more generic "in between two numbers" use:
Random r = new Random();
int low = 10;
int high = 100;
int result = r.nextInt(high-low) + low;
This gives you a random number in between 10 (inclusive) and 100 (exclusive)
Assuming the upper is the upper bound and lower is the lower bound, then you can make a random number, r, between the two bounds with:
int r = (int) (Math.random() * (upper - lower)) + lower;