=over =item rand EXPR X X =item rand Returns a random fractional number greater than or equal to C<0> and less than the value of EXPR. (EXPR should be positive.) If EXPR is omitted, the value C<1> is used. Currently EXPR with the value C<0> is also special-cased as C<1> (this was undocumented before Perl 5.8.0 and is subject to change in future versions of Perl). Automatically calls L|/srand EXPR> unless L|/srand EXPR> has already been called. See also L|/srand EXPR>. Apply L|/int EXPR> to the value returned by L|/rand EXPR> if you want random integers instead of random fractional numbers. For example, int(rand(10)) returns a random integer between C<0> and C<9>, inclusive. (Note: If your rand function consistently returns numbers that are too large or too small, then your version of Perl was probably compiled with the wrong number of RANDBITS.) B|/rand EXPR> is not cryptographically secure. You should not rely on it in security-sensitive situations.> As of this writing, a number of third-party CPAN modules offer random number generators intended by their authors to be cryptographically secure, including: L, L, L, and L. =back