In python, what is the difference between random.uniform() and random.random()?

Question

In python for the random module, what is the difference between random.uniform() and random.random()? They both generate pseudo random numbers, random.uniform() generates numbers from a uniform distribution and random.random() generates the next random number. What is the difference?

Answer 1

random.random() gives you a random floating point number in the range [0.0, 1.0) (so including 0.0, but not including 1.0 which is also known as a semi-open range). random.uniform(a, b) gives you a random floating point number in the range [a, b], (where rounding may end up giving you b).

The implementation of random.uniform() uses random.random() directly:

def uniform(self, a, b):
    "Get a random number in the range [a, b) or [a, b] depending on rounding."
    return a + (b-a) * self.random()

random.uniform(0, 1) is basically the same thing as random.random() (as 1.0 times float value closest to 1.0 still will give you float value closest to 1.0 there is no possibility of a rounding error there).