Well, what do we know about the random number generator in Excel? This is the reason why it has never been documented and will hardly ever be. What it means for you is that, in theory, random numbers generated by Excel are predictable, provided that someone knows all the details of the generator's algorithm. Like most computer programs, Excel random number generator produces pseudo-random numbers by using some mathematical formulas. Let's take a closer look at the Excel random generator algorithm so that you know what you can expect from it, and what you cannot. But don't write it off immediately :) Pseudo-random numbers produced by the Excel random functions are fine for many purposes.
In plain English, random data is a series of numbers, letters or other symbols that lacks any pattern.
The tutorial explains the specificities of the Excel random number generator algorithm and demonstrates how to use RAND and RANDBETWEEN functions to generate random numbers, dates, passwords and other text strings in Excel.īefore we delve into different techniques of generating random numbers in Excel, let's define what they actually are.