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 * The ASF licenses this file to You under the Apache License, Version 2.0
 * (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with
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 *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
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package org.apache.commons.lang3;

import java.util.Random;

Generates random Strings.

Caveat: Instances of Random, upon which the implementation of this class relies, are not cryptographically secure.

RandomStringUtils is intended for simple use cases. For more advanced use cases consider using Apache Commons Text's RandomStringGenerator instead.

The Apache Commons project provides Commons RNG dedicated to pseudo-random number generation, that may be a better choice for applications with more stringent requirements (performance and/or correctness).

Note that private high surrogate characters are ignored. These are Unicode characters that fall between the values 56192 (db80) and 56319 (dbff) as we don't know how to handle them. High and low surrogates are correctly dealt with - that is if a high surrogate is randomly chosen, 55296 (d800) to 56191 (db7f) then it is followed by a low surrogate. If a low surrogate is chosen, 56320 (dc00) to 57343 (dfff) then it is placed after a randomly chosen high surrogate.

#ThreadSafe#

Since:1.0
/** * <p>Generates random {@code String}s.</p> * * <p><b>Caveat: Instances of {@link Random}, upon which the implementation of this * class relies, are not cryptographically secure.</b></p> * * <p>RandomStringUtils is intended for simple use cases. For more advanced * use cases consider using Apache Commons Text's * <a href="https://commons.apache.org/proper/commons-text/javadocs/api-release/org/apache/commons/text/RandomStringGenerator.html"> * RandomStringGenerator</a> instead.</p> * * <p>The Apache Commons project provides * <a href="https://commons.apache.org/rng">Commons RNG</a> dedicated to pseudo-random number generation, that may be * a better choice for applications with more stringent requirements * (performance and/or correctness).</p> * * <p>Note that <em>private high surrogate</em> characters are ignored. * These are Unicode characters that fall between the values 56192 (db80) * and 56319 (dbff) as we don't know how to handle them. * High and low surrogates are correctly dealt with - that is if a * high surrogate is randomly chosen, 55296 (d800) to 56191 (db7f) * then it is followed by a low surrogate. If a low surrogate is chosen, * 56320 (dc00) to 57343 (dfff) then it is placed after a randomly * chosen high surrogate.</p> * * <p>#ThreadSafe#</p> * @since 1.0 */
public class RandomStringUtils {

Random object used by random method. This has to be not local to the random method so as to not return the same value in the same millisecond.

/** * <p>Random object used by random method. This has to be not local * to the random method so as to not return the same value in the * same millisecond.</p> */
private static final Random RANDOM = new Random();

RandomStringUtils instances should NOT be constructed in standard programming. Instead, the class should be used as RandomStringUtils.random(5);.

This constructor is public to permit tools that require a JavaBean instance to operate.

/** * <p>{@code RandomStringUtils} instances should NOT be constructed in * standard programming. Instead, the class should be used as * {@code RandomStringUtils.random(5);}.</p> * * <p>This constructor is public to permit tools that require a JavaBean instance * to operate.</p> */
public RandomStringUtils() { super(); } // Random //-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Creates a random string whose length is the number of characters specified.

Characters will be chosen from the set of all characters.

Params:
  • count – the length of random string to create
Returns:the random string
/** * <p>Creates a random string whose length is the number of characters * specified.</p> * * <p>Characters will be chosen from the set of all characters.</p> * * @param count the length of random string to create * @return the random string */
public static String random(final int count) { return random(count, false, false); }

Creates a random string whose length is the number of characters specified.

Characters will be chosen from the set of characters whose ASCII value is between 32 and 126 (inclusive).

Params:
  • count – the length of random string to create
Returns:the random string
/** * <p>Creates a random string whose length is the number of characters * specified.</p> * * <p>Characters will be chosen from the set of characters whose * ASCII value is between {@code 32} and {@code 126} (inclusive).</p> * * @param count the length of random string to create * @return the random string */
public static String randomAscii(final int count) { return random(count, 32, 127, false, false); }

Creates a random string whose length is between the inclusive minimum and the exclusive maximum.

Characters will be chosen from the set of characters whose ASCII value is between 32 and 126 (inclusive).

Params:
  • minLengthInclusive – the inclusive minimum length of the string to generate
  • maxLengthExclusive – the exclusive maximum length of the string to generate
Returns:the random string
Since:3.5
/** * <p>Creates a random string whose length is between the inclusive minimum and * the exclusive maximum.</p> * * <p>Characters will be chosen from the set of characters whose * ASCII value is between {@code 32} and {@code 126} (inclusive).</p> * * @param minLengthInclusive the inclusive minimum length of the string to generate * @param maxLengthExclusive the exclusive maximum length of the string to generate * @return the random string * @since 3.5 */
public static String randomAscii(final int minLengthInclusive, final int maxLengthExclusive) { return randomAscii(RandomUtils.nextInt(minLengthInclusive, maxLengthExclusive)); }

Creates a random string whose length is the number of characters specified.

Characters will be chosen from the set of Latin alphabetic characters (a-z, A-Z).

Params:
  • count – the length of random string to create
Returns:the random string
/** * <p>Creates a random string whose length is the number of characters * specified.</p> * * <p>Characters will be chosen from the set of Latin alphabetic * characters (a-z, A-Z).</p> * * @param count the length of random string to create * @return the random string */
public static String randomAlphabetic(final int count) { return random(count, true, false); }

Creates a random string whose length is between the inclusive minimum and the exclusive maximum.

Characters will be chosen from the set of Latin alphabetic characters (a-z, A-Z).

Params:
  • minLengthInclusive – the inclusive minimum length of the string to generate
  • maxLengthExclusive – the exclusive maximum length of the string to generate
Returns:the random string
Since:3.5
/** * <p>Creates a random string whose length is between the inclusive minimum and * the exclusive maximum.</p> * * <p>Characters will be chosen from the set of Latin alphabetic characters (a-z, A-Z).</p> * * @param minLengthInclusive the inclusive minimum length of the string to generate * @param maxLengthExclusive the exclusive maximum length of the string to generate * @return the random string * @since 3.5 */
public static String randomAlphabetic(final int minLengthInclusive, final int maxLengthExclusive) { return randomAlphabetic(RandomUtils.nextInt(minLengthInclusive, maxLengthExclusive)); }

Creates a random string whose length is the number of characters specified.

Characters will be chosen from the set of Latin alphabetic characters (a-z, A-Z) and the digits 0-9.

Params:
  • count – the length of random string to create
Returns:the random string
/** * <p>Creates a random string whose length is the number of characters * specified.</p> * * <p>Characters will be chosen from the set of Latin alphabetic * characters (a-z, A-Z) and the digits 0-9.</p> * * @param count the length of random string to create * @return the random string */
public static String randomAlphanumeric(final int count) { return random(count, true, true); }

Creates a random string whose length is between the inclusive minimum and the exclusive maximum.

Characters will be chosen from the set of Latin alphabetic characters (a-z, A-Z) and the digits 0-9.

Params:
  • minLengthInclusive – the inclusive minimum length of the string to generate
  • maxLengthExclusive – the exclusive maximum length of the string to generate
Returns:the random string
Since:3.5
/** * <p>Creates a random string whose length is between the inclusive minimum and * the exclusive maximum.</p> * * <p>Characters will be chosen from the set of Latin alphabetic * characters (a-z, A-Z) and the digits 0-9.</p> * * @param minLengthInclusive the inclusive minimum length of the string to generate * @param maxLengthExclusive the exclusive maximum length of the string to generate * @return the random string * @since 3.5 */
public static String randomAlphanumeric(final int minLengthInclusive, final int maxLengthExclusive) { return randomAlphanumeric(RandomUtils.nextInt(minLengthInclusive, maxLengthExclusive)); }

Creates a random string whose length is the number of characters specified.

Characters will be chosen from the set of characters which match the POSIX [:graph:] regular expression character class. This class contains all visible ASCII characters (i.e. anything except spaces and control characters).

Params:
  • count – the length of random string to create
Returns:the random string
Since:3.5
/** * <p>Creates a random string whose length is the number of characters specified.</p> * * <p>Characters will be chosen from the set of characters which match the POSIX [:graph:] * regular expression character class. This class contains all visible ASCII characters * (i.e. anything except spaces and control characters).</p> * * @param count the length of random string to create * @return the random string * @since 3.5 */
public static String randomGraph(final int count) { return random(count, 33, 126, false, false); }

Creates a random string whose length is between the inclusive minimum and the exclusive maximum.

Characters will be chosen from the set of \p{Graph} characters.

Params:
  • minLengthInclusive – the inclusive minimum length of the string to generate
  • maxLengthExclusive – the exclusive maximum length of the string to generate
Returns:the random string
Since:3.5
/** * <p>Creates a random string whose length is between the inclusive minimum and * the exclusive maximum.</p> * * <p>Characters will be chosen from the set of \p{Graph} characters.</p> * * @param minLengthInclusive the inclusive minimum length of the string to generate * @param maxLengthExclusive the exclusive maximum length of the string to generate * @return the random string * @since 3.5 */
public static String randomGraph(final int minLengthInclusive, final int maxLengthExclusive) { return randomGraph(RandomUtils.nextInt(minLengthInclusive, maxLengthExclusive)); }

Creates a random string whose length is the number of characters specified.

Characters will be chosen from the set of numeric characters.

Params:
  • count – the length of random string to create
Returns:the random string
/** * <p>Creates a random string whose length is the number of characters * specified.</p> * * <p>Characters will be chosen from the set of numeric * characters.</p> * * @param count the length of random string to create * @return the random string */
public static String randomNumeric(final int count) { return random(count, false, true); }

Creates a random string whose length is between the inclusive minimum and the exclusive maximum.

Characters will be chosen from the set of \p{Digit} characters.

Params:
  • minLengthInclusive – the inclusive minimum length of the string to generate
  • maxLengthExclusive – the exclusive maximum length of the string to generate
Returns:the random string
Since:3.5
/** * <p>Creates a random string whose length is between the inclusive minimum and * the exclusive maximum.</p> * * <p>Characters will be chosen from the set of \p{Digit} characters.</p> * * @param minLengthInclusive the inclusive minimum length of the string to generate * @param maxLengthExclusive the exclusive maximum length of the string to generate * @return the random string * @since 3.5 */
public static String randomNumeric(final int minLengthInclusive, final int maxLengthExclusive) { return randomNumeric(RandomUtils.nextInt(minLengthInclusive, maxLengthExclusive)); }

Creates a random string whose length is the number of characters specified.

Characters will be chosen from the set of characters which match the POSIX [:print:] regular expression character class. This class includes all visible ASCII characters and spaces (i.e. anything except control characters).

Params:
  • count – the length of random string to create
Returns:the random string
Since:3.5
/** * <p>Creates a random string whose length is the number of characters specified.</p> * * <p>Characters will be chosen from the set of characters which match the POSIX [:print:] * regular expression character class. This class includes all visible ASCII characters and spaces * (i.e. anything except control characters).</p> * * @param count the length of random string to create * @return the random string * @since 3.5 */
public static String randomPrint(final int count) { return random(count, 32, 126, false, false); }

Creates a random string whose length is between the inclusive minimum and the exclusive maximum.

Characters will be chosen from the set of \p{Print} characters.

Params:
  • minLengthInclusive – the inclusive minimum length of the string to generate
  • maxLengthExclusive – the exclusive maximum length of the string to generate
Returns:the random string
Since:3.5
/** * <p>Creates a random string whose length is between the inclusive minimum and * the exclusive maximum.</p> * * <p>Characters will be chosen from the set of \p{Print} characters.</p> * * @param minLengthInclusive the inclusive minimum length of the string to generate * @param maxLengthExclusive the exclusive maximum length of the string to generate * @return the random string * @since 3.5 */
public static String randomPrint(final int minLengthInclusive, final int maxLengthExclusive) { return randomPrint(RandomUtils.nextInt(minLengthInclusive, maxLengthExclusive)); }

Creates a random string whose length is the number of characters specified.

Characters will be chosen from the set of alpha-numeric characters as indicated by the arguments.

Params:
  • count – the length of random string to create
  • letters – if true, generated string may include alphabetic characters
  • numbers – if true, generated string may include numeric characters
Returns:the random string
/** * <p>Creates a random string whose length is the number of characters * specified.</p> * * <p>Characters will be chosen from the set of alpha-numeric * characters as indicated by the arguments.</p> * * @param count the length of random string to create * @param letters if {@code true}, generated string may include * alphabetic characters * @param numbers if {@code true}, generated string may include * numeric characters * @return the random string */
public static String random(final int count, final boolean letters, final boolean numbers) { return random(count, 0, 0, letters, numbers); }

Creates a random string whose length is the number of characters specified.

Characters will be chosen from the set of alpha-numeric characters as indicated by the arguments.

Params:
  • count – the length of random string to create
  • start – the position in set of chars to start at
  • end – the position in set of chars to end before
  • letters – if true, generated string may include alphabetic characters
  • numbers – if true, generated string may include numeric characters
Returns:the random string
/** * <p>Creates a random string whose length is the number of characters * specified.</p> * * <p>Characters will be chosen from the set of alpha-numeric * characters as indicated by the arguments.</p> * * @param count the length of random string to create * @param start the position in set of chars to start at * @param end the position in set of chars to end before * @param letters if {@code true}, generated string may include * alphabetic characters * @param numbers if {@code true}, generated string may include * numeric characters * @return the random string */
public static String random(final int count, final int start, final int end, final boolean letters, final boolean numbers) { return random(count, start, end, letters, numbers, null, RANDOM); }

Creates a random string based on a variety of options, using default source of randomness.

This method has exactly the same semantics as random(int, int, int, boolean, boolean, char[], Random), but instead of using an externally supplied source of randomness, it uses the internal static Random instance.

Params:
  • count – the length of random string to create
  • start – the position in set of chars to start at
  • end – the position in set of chars to end before
  • letters – only allow letters?
  • numbers – only allow numbers?
  • chars – the set of chars to choose randoms from. If null, then it will use the set of all chars.
Throws:
Returns:the random string
/** * <p>Creates a random string based on a variety of options, using * default source of randomness.</p> * * <p>This method has exactly the same semantics as * {@link #random(int,int,int,boolean,boolean,char[],Random)}, but * instead of using an externally supplied source of randomness, it uses * the internal static {@link Random} instance.</p> * * @param count the length of random string to create * @param start the position in set of chars to start at * @param end the position in set of chars to end before * @param letters only allow letters? * @param numbers only allow numbers? * @param chars the set of chars to choose randoms from. * If {@code null}, then it will use the set of all chars. * @return the random string * @throws ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException if there are not * {@code (end - start) + 1} characters in the set array. */
public static String random(final int count, final int start, final int end, final boolean letters, final boolean numbers, final char... chars) { return random(count, start, end, letters, numbers, chars, RANDOM); }

Creates a random string based on a variety of options, using supplied source of randomness.

If start and end are both 0, start and end are set to ' ' and 'z', the ASCII printable characters, will be used, unless letters and numbers are both false, in which case, start and end are set to 0 and Character.MAX_CODE_POINT.

If set is not null, characters between start and end are chosen.

This method accepts a user-supplied Random instance to use as a source of randomness. By seeding a single Random instance with a fixed seed and using it for each call, the same random sequence of strings can be generated repeatedly and predictably.

Params:
  • count – the length of random string to create
  • start – the position in set of chars to start at (inclusive)
  • end – the position in set of chars to end before (exclusive)
  • letters – only allow letters?
  • numbers – only allow numbers?
  • chars – the set of chars to choose randoms from, must not be empty. If null, then it will use the set of all chars.
  • random – a source of randomness.
Throws:
Returns:the random string
Since:2.0
/** * <p>Creates a random string based on a variety of options, using * supplied source of randomness.</p> * * <p>If start and end are both {@code 0}, start and end are set * to {@code ' '} and {@code 'z'}, the ASCII printable * characters, will be used, unless letters and numbers are both * {@code false}, in which case, start and end are set to * {@code 0} and {@link Character#MAX_CODE_POINT}. * * <p>If set is not {@code null}, characters between start and * end are chosen.</p> * * <p>This method accepts a user-supplied {@link Random} * instance to use as a source of randomness. By seeding a single * {@link Random} instance with a fixed seed and using it for each call, * the same random sequence of strings can be generated repeatedly * and predictably.</p> * * @param count the length of random string to create * @param start the position in set of chars to start at (inclusive) * @param end the position in set of chars to end before (exclusive) * @param letters only allow letters? * @param numbers only allow numbers? * @param chars the set of chars to choose randoms from, must not be empty. * If {@code null}, then it will use the set of all chars. * @param random a source of randomness. * @return the random string * @throws ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException if there are not * {@code (end - start) + 1} characters in the set array. * @throws IllegalArgumentException if {@code count} &lt; 0 or the provided chars array is empty. * @since 2.0 */
public static String random(int count, int start, int end, final boolean letters, final boolean numbers, final char[] chars, final Random random) { if (count == 0) { return StringUtils.EMPTY; } else if (count < 0) { throw new IllegalArgumentException("Requested random string length " + count + " is less than 0."); } if (chars != null && chars.length == 0) { throw new IllegalArgumentException("The chars array must not be empty"); } if (start == 0 && end == 0) { if (chars != null) { end = chars.length; } else { if (!letters && !numbers) { end = Character.MAX_CODE_POINT; } else { end = 'z' + 1; start = ' '; } } } else { if (end <= start) { throw new IllegalArgumentException("Parameter end (" + end + ") must be greater than start (" + start + ")"); } } final int zero_digit_ascii = 48; final int first_letter_ascii = 65; if (chars == null && (numbers && end <= zero_digit_ascii || letters && end <= first_letter_ascii)) { throw new IllegalArgumentException("Parameter end (" + end + ") must be greater then (" + zero_digit_ascii + ") for generating digits " + "or greater then (" + first_letter_ascii + ") for generating letters."); } final StringBuilder builder = new StringBuilder(count); final int gap = end - start; while (count-- != 0) { int codePoint; if (chars == null) { codePoint = random.nextInt(gap) + start; switch (Character.getType(codePoint)) { case Character.UNASSIGNED: case Character.PRIVATE_USE: case Character.SURROGATE: count++; continue; } } else { codePoint = chars[random.nextInt(gap) + start]; } final int numberOfChars = Character.charCount(codePoint); if (count == 0 && numberOfChars > 1) { count++; continue; } if (letters && Character.isLetter(codePoint) || numbers && Character.isDigit(codePoint) || !letters && !numbers) { builder.appendCodePoint(codePoint); if (numberOfChars == 2) { count--; } } else { count++; } } return builder.toString(); }

Creates a random string whose length is the number of characters specified.

Characters will be chosen from the set of characters specified by the string, must not be empty. If null, the set of all characters is used.

Params:
  • count – the length of random string to create
  • chars – the String containing the set of characters to use, may be null, but must not be empty
Throws:
Returns:the random string
/** * <p>Creates a random string whose length is the number of characters * specified.</p> * * <p>Characters will be chosen from the set of characters * specified by the string, must not be empty. * If null, the set of all characters is used.</p> * * @param count the length of random string to create * @param chars the String containing the set of characters to use, * may be null, but must not be empty * @return the random string * @throws IllegalArgumentException if {@code count} &lt; 0 or the string is empty. */
public static String random(final int count, final String chars) { if (chars == null) { return random(count, 0, 0, false, false, null, RANDOM); } return random(count, chars.toCharArray()); }

Creates a random string whose length is the number of characters specified.

Characters will be chosen from the set of characters specified.

Params:
  • count – the length of random string to create
  • chars – the character array containing the set of characters to use, may be null
Throws:
Returns:the random string
/** * <p>Creates a random string whose length is the number of characters * specified.</p> * * <p>Characters will be chosen from the set of characters specified.</p> * * @param count the length of random string to create * @param chars the character array containing the set of characters to use, * may be null * @return the random string * @throws IllegalArgumentException if {@code count} &lt; 0. */
public static String random(final int count, final char... chars) { if (chars == null) { return random(count, 0, 0, false, false, null, RANDOM); } return random(count, 0, chars.length, false, false, chars, RANDOM); } }