c++ how to generate a random number in a range

To generate a random number in a specific range in C++, you can use the <random> library. Here are the steps to do it:

  1. Include the necessary library: To use the random number generation facilities in C++, you need to include the <random> library in your code. You can do this by adding #include <random> at the beginning of your program.

  2. Create a random number engine: C++ provides different random number engines that generate random numbers. You can choose the appropriate engine based on your requirements. For example, you can use the std::default_random_engine engine, which is a widely used engine. You can create an instance of the engine by declaring it like this:

std::default_random_engine rng;
  1. Set the seed: Before generating random numbers, you need to set the seed for the random number engine. The seed determines the initial state of the engine and affects the sequence of random numbers generated. You can set the seed using the std::random_device class, which provides a source of non-deterministic random numbers. Here's how you can set the seed:
std::random_device rd;
rng.seed(rd());
  1. Define the range: Next, you need to define the range within which you want to generate random numbers. You can do this using the std::uniform_int_distribution class, which generates random integers within a specified range. For example, to generate random numbers between 1 and 100 (inclusive), you can define the distribution like this:
std::uniform_int_distribution<int> dist(1, 100);
  1. Generate random numbers: Finally, you can generate random numbers using the random number engine and the defined distribution. You can do this by calling the operator() function on the distribution object, passing the random number engine as an argument. Here's how you can generate a random number within the specified range:
int randomNum = dist(rng);

That's it! Following these steps will allow you to generate random numbers within a specific range in C++.