std::mt19937 Class in C++
std::mt19937(since C++11) class is a very efficient pseudo-random number generator and is defined in a random header file. It produces 32-bit pseudo-random numbers using the well-known and popular algorithm named Mersenne twister algorithm. std::mt19937 class is basically a type of std::mersenne_twister_engine class.
typedef mersenne_twister_engine<uint_fast32_t, 32,624,397,31,0x9908b0df,11,0xffffffff,7,0x9d2c5680,15,0xefc60000,18,1812433253> mt19937;
Syntax :
mt19937 mt1(seed_value);
Here mt1 is an instance of the mt19937 class and it takes a seed value to generate an entire sequence.
Significance Of The Name mt19937
mt19937 stands for mersenne twister with a long period of 219937 – 1 which means mt19937 produces a sequence of 32-bit integers that only repeats itself after 219937 – 1 number have been generated.
Similarities Between mt19937 And rand() & srand():
The std::mt19937 does two things –
- When an std::mt19937 object is instantiated, it takes an argument which is used to generate seed value(like srand()).
- By using operator(), it generates a random number (like rand()).
Below is the example to demonstrate the similarities:
C++
// C++ program for demonstrating // similaritites #include <ctime> #include <iostream> #include <random> using namespace std; int main() { // Initializing the sequence // with a seed value // similar to srand() mt19937 mt( time (nullptr)); // Printing a random number // similar to rand() cout << mt() << '\n' ; return 0; } |
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Being a type of std::mersenne_twister_engine class it has the same member functions which mersenne_twister_engine does. Here is the list of some important member functions –
1. (constructor): constructs the mt19937 object. It takes either a seed value of result type or a seed sequence object(Similar to srand() function).
Example :
C++
// C++ program to implement // the above concept // This header file is // for time #include <ctime> #include <iostream> #include <random> using namespace std; int main() { // Using the constructor to // initialize with a seed value mt19937 mt( time (nullptr)); // Operator() is used to // generate random numbers cout << mt() << '\n' ; return 0; } |
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2. min(): returns the minimum value operator() can return (which is zero).
Example:
C++
// C++ program for the // min() #include <ctime> #include <iostream> #include <random> using namespace std; // Driver code int main() { // Initializing mt19937 // object mt19937 mt( time (nullptr)); // Prints the minimum value // which is 0 cout << "the minimum integer it can generate is " << mt.min() << endl; return 0; } |
the minimum integer it can generate is 0
3. max(): returns maximum value operator() can return ( which is 232 – 1 = 4294967295 )
Example :
C++
// C++ program to demonstrate // max() #include <ctime> #include <iostream> #include <random> using namespace std; // Driver code int main() { // Initializing mt19937 // object mt19937 mt( time (nullptr)); // Prints the maximum value // which is 4294967295 cout << "mt19937 can generate random numbers upto " << mt.max() << endl; return 0; } |
mt19937 can generate random numbers upto 4294967295
4. seed(): reinitializes the seed value of the object either by taking a seed value of result type or by taking a seed sequence object.
Example :
C++
// C++ program to demonstrate // seed() #include <iostream> #include <random> using namespace std; // Driver code int main() { // Defining the // mt19937 object mt19937 mt; // Initializing a random // sequence with a seed value mt.seed(45218965); cout << "some random numbers generated by mt19937 are:" << endl; for ( int i = 5; i > 0; i--) { cout << mt() << ' ' ; } return 0; } |
some random numbers generated by mt19937 are: 3334444225 240363925 3350157104 146869560 639267854
5. operator(): it generates pseudo-random integers.(similar to rand() function).
Example:
C++
// C++ program to demonstrate // operator() #include <ctime> #include <iostream> #include <random> using namespace std; // Driver code int main() { // Initializing mt19937 // object mt19937 mt( time (nullptr)); for ( int i = 0; i < 5; i++) { // operator() is used to // generate random numbers cout << mt() << ' ' ; } return 0; } |
3529725061 3019704141 2006641117 725527349 3631905871
There are also non-member functions overloaded to work with std::mt19937 object. These are –
- operator<<() – This is overloaded so that we can directly print the value generated by the mt19937 object to the output stream.
- operator>>() – it is used to extract seed value from input.
Here is a simple example to generate a pseudo-random number by taking a seed value from the user –
Using operator<<() and operator>>() :
Example :
C++
// C++ program to demonstrate // operator>>() and <<operator() #include <ctime> #include <iostream> #include <random> using namespace std; // Driver code int main() { mt19937 mt; cout << "enter a integer to begin" << endl; // operator>>() is used to get // a seed value from the user cin >> mt; // <<operator() is used to print // the random integer cout << "a random number " << mt() << " is generated" ; return 0; } |
enter a integer to begin a random number 3499211612 is generated
Why Use mt19937 Instead Of rand() ?
Although the rand() function can be used in a small range, it is inefficient for generating real-world like random numbers. A careful person can observe the repetitions of the random numbers generated by rand() which is very risky. Whereas std::mt19937 has the following advantages –
- It has a very long period compared to the rand(). It will take a longer time. If an implementation of the Mersenne twister could generate 1,000,000,000 (one billion) pseudo-random numbers every second, a program that generated pseudo-random numbers would need to run about 1.3684 × 105,985 years to repeat the random sequence. So it is safe to assume that an observer will never guess the number.
- Many random number generators can be initiated simultaneously with different seed values. Here is an example –
C++
// C++ program to demonstrate // above approach #include <iostream> #include <random> using namespace std; // Driver code int main() { mt19937 mt1(10000); mt19937 mt2(100000); cout << mt1() << endl; cout << mt2() << endl; return 0; } |
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