Swift random float between 0 and 1

Question

In Swift, I'm trying to get a random float between 0 and 1 but I can't seem to get the type conversions to work.

func randomCGFloat() -> CGFloat {
    return CGFloat(arc4random()) / UINT32_MAX
}

I'm getting a 'CGFloat' is not convertible to 'UInt8' error

Running Xcode 6.

Answer 1

This is extension for random numbers of Int, Double, Float, CGFloat

Swift 3 & 4 & 5 syntax

import Foundation
import CoreGraphics

// MARK: Int Extension

public extension Int {

    /// Returns a random Int point number between 0 and Int.max.
    static var random: Int {
        return Int.random(n: Int.max)
    }

    /// Random integer between 0 and n-1.
    ///
    /// - Parameter n:  Interval max
    /// - Returns:      Returns a random Int point number between 0 and n max
    static func random(n: Int) -> Int {
        return Int(arc4random_uniform(UInt32(n)))
    }

    ///  Random integer between min and max
    ///
    /// - Parameters:
    ///   - min:    Interval minimun
    ///   - max:    Interval max
    /// - Returns:  Returns a random Int point number between 0 and n max
    static func random(min: Int, max: Int) -> Int {
        return Int.random(n: max - min + 1) + min

    }
}

// MARK: Double Extension

public extension Double {

    /// Returns a random floating point number between 0.0 and 1.0, inclusive.
    static var random: Double {
        return Double(arc4random()) / 0xFFFFFFFF
    }

    /// Random double between 0 and n-1.
    ///
    /// - Parameter n:  Interval max
    /// - Returns:      Returns a random double point number between 0 and n max
    static func random(min: Double, max: Double) -> Double {
        return Double.random * (max - min) + min
    }
}

// MARK: Float Extension

public extension Float {

    /// Returns a random floating point number between 0.0 and 1.0, inclusive.
    static var random: Float {
        return Float(arc4random()) / 0xFFFFFFFF
    }

    /// Random float between 0 and n-1.
    ///
    /// - Parameter n:  Interval max
    /// - Returns:      Returns a random float point number between 0 and n max
    static func random(min: Float, max: Float) -> Float {
        return Float.random * (max - min) + min
    }
}

// MARK: CGFloat Extension

public extension CGFloat {

    /// Randomly returns either 1.0 or -1.0.
    static var randomSign: CGFloat {
        return (arc4random_uniform(2) == 0) ? 1.0 : -1.0
    }

    /// Returns a random floating point number between 0.0 and 1.0, inclusive.
    static var random: CGFloat {
        return CGFloat(Float.random)
    }

    /// Random CGFloat between 0 and n-1.
    ///
    /// - Parameter n:  Interval max
    /// - Returns:      Returns a random CGFloat point number between 0 and n max
    static func random(min: CGFloat, max: CGFloat) -> CGFloat {
        return CGFloat.random * (max - min) + min
    }
}

Use :

let randomNumDouble  = Double.random(min: 0.00, max: 23.50)
let randomNumInt     = Int.random(min: 56, max: 992)
let randomNumFloat   = Float.random(min: 6.98, max: 923.09)
let randomNumCGFloat = CGFloat.random(min: 6.98, max: 923.09)