Pseudorandom Generation

Definition ∞ Pseudorandom generation involves algorithms that produce sequences of numbers appearing random but are determined by an initial seed value. These sequences are not truly random because they are computationally generated and thus deterministic, meaning the same seed will always produce the same sequence. In blockchain and cryptography, pseudorandom number generators (PRNGs) are utilized for various purposes, including creating private keys, generating nonces, and selecting validators. Their security relies on the practical infeasibility of predicting the next number without knowledge of the seed or previous outputs.
Context ∞ The security and fairness of pseudorandom generation are a recurring topic in discussions concerning blockchain gaming, decentralized lotteries, and proof-of-stake consensus mechanisms. News often highlights challenges related to ensuring sufficient entropy or preventing manipulation of PRNGs in on-chain applications. Researchers continually work to develop more robust and verifiable random beacon solutions. The integrity of these generated numbers is vital for maintaining trust in decentralized systems requiring unpredictability.