The random() function generates pseudo-random numbers.
If it is important for a sequence of values generated by random() to differ, on subsequent executions of a sketch, use randomSeed() to initialize the random number generator with a fairly random input, such as analogRead() on an unconnected pin.
Conversely, it can occasionally be useful to use pseudorandom sequences that repeat exactly. This can be accomplished by calling randomSeed() with a fixed number, before starting the random sequence.
The following sketch initializes the random seed based on an ADC reading of pin 0. If this pin is unconnected, the Sketch should print different values to the serial monitor each time it is run:
long randNumber;
void setup() {
pinMode(0, INPUT_ANALOG);
randomSeed(analogRead(0));
}
void loop() {
randNumber = random(300);
SerialUSB.println(randNumber);
delay(50);
}
License and Attribution
Portions of this page were adapted from the Arduino Reference Documentation, which is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License.