Random boolean with weight or bias

java random probability

maxf130 · Jun 28, 2013 · Viewed 8.7k times · Source

I need to generate some random booleans. However I need to be able to specify the probability of returning true. As a results doing:

private Random random = new Random();
random.nextBoolean();

will not work.

One possible solution would be:

private Random random = new Random()

public boolean getRandomBoolean(float p){
return random.nextFloat() < p;
}

I was wondering if there is a better or more natural way of doing this.

EDIT: I guess I am asking whether there is a library class that provides a nextBoolean(float probability) method.

Answer

I was wondering if there is a better or more natural way of doing this.

The approach you're using already is fine.

^* As far as I know, there's not a standard Java method that will make this code any shorter.

_{* For non-cryptographic purposes.}