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Generating Random Numbers in the .NET Framework
Random numbers may be generated in the .NET Framework by making use of the Random
class. This class may be instantiated using the following code:
//Create a new Random class in C#
Random RandomClass = new Random();
'Create a new Random class in VB.NET
Dim RandomClass As New Random()
Random Integers
Once the class has been instantiated, a random integer can be obtained by calling the Next
method of the Random class:
//C#
int RandomNumber = RandomClass.Next();
'VB.NET
Dim RandomNumber As Integer
RandomNumber = RandomClass.Next()
The value of RandomNumber will, therefore, be assigned a random whole number
between 1 and 2,147,483,647.
In most coding situations, it is more desirable to create a random number within a
certain size range. In this case, the Next method should be called with two
arguments: the minimum value and the maximum value. For example, the following assigns RandomNumber
to a value that is greater or equal to 4 and less than 14:
//C#
int RandomNumber = RandomClass.Next(4, 14);
'VB.NET
Dim RandomNumber As Integer
RandomNumber = RandomClass.Next(4, 14)
Note that an ArgumentOutOfRangeException will be raised if the minimum value
is larger than the maximum value.
It is also possible to specify just the maximum value using a different constructor.
The following will return a return a random integer that is greater or equal to 0 and less
than 14:
//C#
int RandomNumber = RandomClass.Next(14);
'VB.NET
Dim RandomNumber As Integer
RandomNumber = RandomClass.Next(14)
Again, an ArgumentOutOfRangeException will be raised if the maximum value is
smaller than 0.
Random Floating Point Numbers
As well as returning random integers, the Random class can also return floating point
numbers. The NextDouble method returns a random number as a Double.
The random number's value is always greater or equal to 0.0, and less than 1.0:
//Create a random double using C#
double RandomNumber = RandomClass.NextDouble();
'Create a random double using VB.NET
Dim RandomNumber As Double
RandomNumber = RandomClass.NextDouble()
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