In almost every project there is a need to generate some Random strings or numbers. What I see very often is that people use some custom implementation around Math.random() and other methods capable of Generating Random Strings. Depending on the implementation they behave like expected. Sometimes they don’t.

I wanted to point to a class that should be used as a replacement and offers most of the features you’ll need. RandomStringUtils from apache.commons.
Why? Because it’s simple, easy to read and well tested.

You need a random string using alphabet letters having a certain length?

RandomStringUtils.randomAlphabetic(42);
// sample output: yWmMtdxLcrqymTywwLlaEpAvYjItfDIGbrXLLCXSLE

Or maybe just numbers?

RandomStringUtils.randomNumeric(42);
// sample output: 617707242748093324842846603534472927492284

Or some “weird” input to see if you can break something?

RandomStringUtils.random(10);
// sample output: 䴴迒눁굘ヰ혡曁柩媠㰏

Hexadecimal is also often asked for, which line is more readable?

RandomStringUtils.random(16, "0123456789abcdef")
// compared to "what google found"
Long.toHexString(Double.doubleToLongBits(Math.random()));

I think you get my point. It’s got all the comfort you asked for.
Give it a try.

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