NAME

rand, srand − random number generator

SYNOPSIS

#include <stdlib.h>

void srand(int seed);

int rand(void);

DESCRIPTION

The newer random(3) should be used in new applications; rand remains for compatibility. 

Rand uses a multiplicative congruential random number generator with period 232 to return successive pseudo-random numbers in the range from 0 to 231−1. 

The generator is reinitialized by calling srand with 1 as argument.  It can be set to a random starting point by calling srand with whatever you like as argument. 

RETURN VALUE

The srand function returns no value.  The rand function computes a sequence of psuedo-random integers. 

SEE ALSO

random(3)

7th Edition  —  August 1, 1992