PostgreSQL 18 reference · Math Functions

PostgreSQL RANDOM() Function

Return a random number from 0 up to 1, or since PostgreSQL 17 a random integer or numeric in a range.

PostgreSQL 18

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Syntax

random()  |  random(min, max)

Parameters

Parameter	Description
`min, max` optional	The range, both ends included (17+).

Return value

double precision from 0 to 1, or a value in the range.

Examples

Random numbers

SELECT random() < 1 AS below_one, floor(random() * 6 + 1) BETWEEN 1 AND 6 AS dice_ok;

Output

 below_one | dice_ok
-----------+---------
 t         | t
(1 row)

Run this on your computer — see “Get Started” for setup.

A repeatable range with setseed() (17+)

SELECT random(1, 100) AS repeatable
FROM (SELECT setseed(0.42)) AS seeded;

Output

 repeatable
------------
         96
(1 row)

Run this on your computer — see “Get Started” for setup.

ORDER BY random() LIMIT n picks random rows from small tables; for large tables use TABLESAMPLE SYSTEM (1). random() isn't cryptographically secure.

Version history

Version	Change
PostgreSQL 17	Added `random(min, max)` for `integer`, `bigint` and `numeric` ranges.

In other languages

RANDOM() · SQLite

GEN_RANDOM_UUID() · Generate a random version 4 UUID. Since PostgreSQL 18, uuidv4() is another name for it.
SQL Aggregate Functions · tutorial

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