ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Random number generator

Hey kiddo! You know how when you play games or use apps, sometimes it asks you to pick a number or do something random? Well, that’s where random number generators come in.

A random number generator is like a magic box that can create numbers completely by chance, like flipping a coin or rolling a dice. It’s something that we use in computers to create random numbers that no one can easily predict or guess.

Imagine that you have a jar filled with colored balls, some are red, some are blue, and some are green. Now, if you were to reach into the jar with your eyes closed and pick a ball, the color you get is random because you can't see which color it is ahead of time. It could be red, green or blue, and you won’t know until you open your eyes. That's what a random number generator does too, but instead of colored balls, it picks out numbers.

Computer programs use algorithms (a set of instructions) to generate a string of digits, but it’s not like counting numbers in order. The algorithm uses complex patterns and calculations to create numbers that seem completely random. That way, no one will be able to guess what number will come up next!

Random number generators are used in lots of things we use every day. They're used in computer programming to simulate games, generate passwords, and conduct scientific research. They're even used in cryptography to create secure codes that nobody else can crack.

So there you have it - random number generators are like a big bowl with numbered ping-pong balls inside that can be picked out randomly by a computer, and it's very useful for many things like games and security. Cool, right?