random.seed(): What does it do?

问题:

I am a bit confused on what random.seed() does in Python. For example, why does the below trials do what they do (consistently)?

>>> import random
>>> random.seed(9001)
>>> random.randint(1, 10)
1
>>> random.randint(1, 10)
3
>>> random.randint(1, 10)
6
>>> random.randint(1, 10)
6
>>> random.randint(1, 10)
7

I couldn't find good documentation on this.

回答1:

Pseudo-random number generators work by performing some operation on a value. Generally this value is the previous number generated by the generator. However, the first time you use the generator, there is no previous value.

Seeding a pseudo-random number generator gives it its first "previous" value. Each seed value will correspond to a sequence of generated values for a given random number generator. That is, if you provide the same seed twice, you get the same sequence of numbers twice.

Generally, you want to seed your random number generator with some value that will change each execution of the program. For instance, the current time is a frequently-used seed. The reason why this doesn't happen automatically is so that if you want, you can provide a specific seed to get a known sequence of numbers.

回答2:

All the other answers don't seem to explain the use of random.seed(). Here is a simple example (source):

import random
random.seed( 3 )
print "Random number with seed 3 : ", random.random() #will generate a random number 
#if you want to use the same random number once again in your program
random.seed( 3 )
random.random()   # same random number as before

回答3:

>>> random.seed(9001)   
>>> random.randint(1, 10)  
1     
>>> random.seed(9001)     
>>> random.randint(1, 10)    
1           
>>> random.seed(9001)          
>>> random.randint(1, 10)                 
1                  
>>> random.seed(9001)         
>>> random.randint(1, 10)          
1     
>>> random.seed(9002)                
>>> random.randint(1, 10)             
3

You try this. Let's say 'random.seed' gives a value to random value generator ('random.randint()') which generates these values on the basis of this seed. One of the must properties of random numbers is that they should be reproducible. Once you put same seed you get the same pattern of random numbers. So you are generating them right from the start again. You give a different seed it starts with a different initial (above 3).

You have given a seed now it will generate random numbers between 1 and 10 one after another. So you can assume one set of numbers for one seed value.

回答4:

In this case, random is actually pseudo-random. Given a seed, it will generate numbers with an equal distribution. But with the same seed, it will generate the same number sequence every time. If you want it to change, you'll have to change your seed. A lot of people like to generate a seed based on the current time or something.

回答5:

 #Simple python programme to understand random.seed() importance

 import random

 random.seed(10)

 for i in range(5):

      print(random.randint(1,100))

Execute the above programme multiple times....

1st attempt : prints 5 random integers in the range of 1 - 100

2nd attempt : prints same 5 random numbers appeared in the above execution.

3rd attempt: same

.....So on

Explanation : Every time we are running the above programme we are setting seed to 10 , then random generator takes this as reference variable.And then by doing some predefined formula it generates a random number.

Hence setting seed to 10 in the next execution again sets reference number to 10 and again the same behavior starts....

As soon as we reset the seed value it gives the same plants.

Note: Change the seed value and run the programme , you'll see a different random sequence than previous one.

回答6:

Seed() can be used for later use ---

Example:
>>> import numpy as np
>>> np.random.seed(12)
>>> np.random.rand(4)
array([0.15416284, 0.7400497 , 0.26331502, 0.53373939])
>>>
>>>
>>> np.random.seed(10)
>>> np.random.rand(4)
array([0.77132064, 0.02075195, 0.63364823, 0.74880388])
>>>
>>>
>>> np.random.seed(12) # When you use same seed as before you will get same random output as before
>>> np.random.rand(4)
array([0.15416284, 0.7400497 , 0.26331502, 0.53373939])
>>>
>>>
>>> np.random.seed(10)
>>> np.random.rand(4)
array([0.77132064, 0.02075195, 0.63364823, 0.74880388])
>>>

回答7:

A random number is generated by some operation on previous value.

If there is no previous value then the current time as previous value automatically. we can provide this previous value by own using random.seed(x) where x could be any number or string etc.

Hence random.random() is not actually perfect random number it could be predict via random.seed(x).

import random random.seed(45) #seed=45
random.random() #1st rand value=0.2718754143840908 0.2718754143840908
random.random() #2nd rand value=0.48802820785090784 0.48802820785090784
random.seed(45) # again reasign seed=45
random.random() 0.2718754143840908 #matching with 1st rand value
random.random() 0.48802820785090784 #matching with 2nd rand value

Hence, generating a random number is not actually random, because it runs on algorithms. Algorithms always give the same output based on the same input. This means, it depends on the value of the seed. So, in order to make it more random, time is automatically assigned to seed().

回答8:

Imho, it is used to generate same random course result when you use random.seed(samedigit) again.

In [47]: random.randint(7,10)

Out[47]: 9


In [48]: random.randint(7,10)

Out[48]: 9


In [49]: random.randint(7,10)

Out[49]: 7


In [50]: random.randint(7,10)

Out[50]: 10


In [51]: random.seed(5)


In [52]: random.randint(7,10)

Out[52]: 9


In [53]: random.seed(5)


In [54]: random.randint(7,10)

Out[54]: 9

回答9:

Here is a small test that demonstrates that feeding the seed() method with the same argument will cause the same pseudo-random result:

# testing random.seed()

import random

def equalityCheck(l):
    state=None
    x=l[0]
    for i in l:
        if i!=x:
            state=False
            break
        else:
            state=True
    return state


l=[]

for i in range(1000):
    random.seed(10)
    l.append(random.random())

print "All elements in l are equal?",equalityCheck(l)

回答10:

Here is my understanding. Every time we set a seed value, a "label" or " reference" is generated. The next random.function call is attached to this "label", so next time you call the same seed value and random.function, it will give you the same result.

np.random.seed( 3 )
print(np.random.randn()) # output: 1.7886284734303186

np.random.seed( 3 )
print(np.random.rand()) # different function. output: 0.5507979025745755

np.random.seed( 5 )
print(np.random.rand()) # different seed value. output: 0.22199317108973948