How Can I Generate Truly Unbiased Random Integers in C ?

Unbiased Random Integer Generation with std::random_device

In the pursuit of generating uniformly distributed random integers, the initial concern stems from the shortcomings of using rand(). To address these issues, the C standard library provides a more robust and efficient solution.

The foundation of random number generation lies in the use of a random-number engine seeded with an external source. In this case, std::random_device serves as the seeding mechanism, providing a non-deterministic initial value that will be used to generate subsequent random numbers.

The preferred choice for random-number engine is std::mt19937, utilizing the Mersenne-Twister algorithm. This engine exhibits excellent statistical properties and has proven to be highly performant.

To generate unbiased random integers within a specified range, we employ std::uniform_int_distribution. This distribution ensures that all values within the range have an equal probability of being selected.

The code below encapsulates these concepts:

#include <random>

std::random_device rd;
std::mt19937 rng(rd());
std::uniform_int_distribution<int> uni(min, max);

auto random_integer = uni(rng);

By utilizing this approach, developers can trust in the uniformity of their randomly generated integers, eliminating any potential bias and ensuring reliable and predictable outcomes.

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