RANDbytes(3) OpenSSL RANDbytes(3)

NAME
       RANDbytes, RANDpseudobytes - generate random data

SYNOPSIS
        #include 

        int RANDbytes(unsigned char *buf, int num);

        int RANDpseudobytes(unsigned char *buf, int num);

DESCRIPTION
       RANDbytes() puts nnuumm cryptographically strong pseudo-random bytes into
       bbuuff. An error occurs if the PRNG has not been seeded with enough
       randomness to ensure an unpredictable byte sequence.

       RANDpseudobytes() puts nnuumm pseudo-random bytes into bbuuff.  Pseudo-
       random byte sequences generated by RANDpseudobytes() will be unique
       if they are of sufficient length, but are not necessarily
       unpredictable. They can be used for non-cryptographic purposes and for
       certain purposes in cryptographic protocols, but usually not for key
       generation etc.

RETURN VALUES
       RANDbytes() returns 1 on success, 0 otherwise. The error code can be
       obtained by ERRgeterror(3). RANDpseudobytes() returns 1 if the
       bytes generated are cryptographically strong, 0 otherwise. Both
       functions return -1 if they are not supported by the current RAND
       method.

SEE ALSO
       rand(3), ERRgeterror(3), RANDadd(3)

HISTORY       RANDbytes() is available in all versions of SSLeay and OpenSSL.  It
       has a return value since OpenSSL 0.9.5. RANDpseudobytes() was added
       in OpenSSL 0.9.5.



0.9.7l                            2002-09-25                     RANDbytes(3)