Math.random() or Random:NextNumber/Integer()?

[L3AGLE]

Hello,

I read somewhere that Random:NextNumber/Integer() is more efficient and less biased than math.random(). I wanted to see your opinion on this as I am currently making a game which requires loads of RNG so that I know which is best to use.

[colbert2677 (ImagineerColbert)]

Both use the same algorithm, neither is more efficient or biased to use. Random just provides you with an extended range of features to use, a nicer API, various internal differences (ex. every new Random object gets a randomised seed from a source of entropy unlike math.randomseed which globally changes the random seed) and a seed that’s local to the object, among other items.

Release thread from its developer:

A Random Feature

Hey everyone, In observance of the gift-giving season, we’re releasing a new Lua datatype: Random. Random is used to generate high-quality pseudorandom numbers from a dedicated internal state. API Random.new([double seed]) Creates a new Random object from the given seed. Multiple Randoms seeded with the same value will always produce the same number sequence. If a seed isn’t specified, one will automatically be pulled from an internal entropy source. int Random:NextInteger(int min, int ma…

Other comments by its developer (ordered by newest relevant post first).

Random:NextInteger() help?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Use Random if you need a discrete state and a nicer API. Use math.random if you don’t care about either of those things. Speed difference is marginal and not worth the attention you’re giving it

Weighted crate system not choosing an item of the same rarity as another

Don’t worry about passing in tick() as a seed argument; it uses a better entropy source by default. The seed parameter is for passing in fixed seeds like 42 so you get deterministic results over multiple runs. Internally, math.random uses a default-constructed Random object based on that internal entropy source. Since math.random state is shared by the script’s VM, you’re never going to get it completely deterministic because other scripts will call it and interfere with the results. Because …

A Better Random Number Generator

Yeah, unfortunately math.randomseed currently turns subsequent calls to math.random into deterministic junk. That was one of the motivations for the work being done now.

https://devforum.roblox.com/t/why-is-the-first-number-always-1/52224/5?u=colbert2677

Use either one.

P.S. Random is an object, not a library. You’d need to do Random.new():Next[Integer/Number].

[L3AGLE]

Could you explain what a ‘seed’ is please? I am quite new to using the ‘Random’ Features.

Thank you for answering btw

[colbert2677 (ImagineerColbert)]

A seed is a number used to initialize a pseudorandom number generator.