Korn Shell: Unix and Linux Programming Manual, Third Edition, The

Random Numbers

The Korn shell provides a special variable, RANDOM, which is used to generate random numbers in the range from 0 to 32767. It generates a different random number each time it is referenced:

					$ print $RANDOM
					27291
					$ print $RANDOM
					5386
					$ print $RANDOM
					6884
				

You can also initialize a sequence of random numbers by setting RANDOM to a value. Here, RANDOM is set to 7. When subsequently accessed, the values 2726 and 18923 are returned:

					$ RANDOM=7
					$ print $RANDOM
					2726
					$ print $RANDOM
					18923
				

When RANDOM is reset to 7 again, the same numbers are returned:

					$ RANDOM=7
					$ print $RANDOM
					2726
					$ print $RANDOM
					18923
				

If RANDOM is unset, the special meaning is removed, even if reset.