RAND()

External Article

Evaluating the Randomness of SQL Server Random Number Functions

  • Article

Microsoft provides T-SQL developers with three functions (rand, newid, and crypt_gen_random) for generating random numbers. Each of these functions is effective at returning random values, but feature sets associated with each function make them best suited to different use cases. This tip’s Solution section presents an overview of common use cases for random numbers in SQL Server along with references to learn more about random numbers in SQL Server.

2025-05-12

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Question of the Day

Too Many Choices

I have a table, dbo.MasterBrands, with this data: 

BrandID OfficialName
1       Samsung
2       Apple
3       Microsoft
4       Adidas
5       Coca-Cola
I run this query. What is returned for Coca-Cola? 
SELECT CHOOSE(BrandID, 'Conglomerate', 'Tech and Design', 'Desktop', 'Apparel')
FROM dbo.MasterBrands;

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