What Does Random Number Generator (RNG) Mean?
A random number generator (RNG) is a mathematical construct, either computational or as a hardware device, that is designed to generate a random set of numbers that should not display any distinguishable patterns in their appearance or generation, hence the word random. It is often in the form of a function or blocks of code used in software applications such as games where an element of chance is required.
Techopedia Explains Random Number Generator (RNG)
Random number generators are just the modern application of randomness devices that have existed since ancient times such as dice, shuffled cards, flipping coins and even drawing straws. In modern computing, random number generators are implemented through programming based on deterministic computation, but this is not really considered as true random because the output can actually be predicted if all seed values are known, so this is called pseudorandom number generation. However, in practice, this is sufficient to fulfill most tasks. True randomness is not really required all the time; in fact, some applications do not actually benefit from it. Consider the “random” function in a music player; it only appears random because if it is truly random it would have no restrictions on the same tracks playing two or more times in succession. There might even be algorithms put in place to control the selection process.
