random questions

[the_bob]

ok, i've found my huge lack of java scripting knowledge. I have no clue how to use random things. For example, how would you be able to have a list of URLS but only one would pop-up when the site loads? (OnLoad)

[fredmv]

<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
	var uri =
	[
		'http://www.yahoo.com/',
		'http://www.google.com/',
		'http://www.hotbot.com/'
	];
	
	onload = function()
	{
		window.open(uri[Math.floor(Math.random()*uri.length)]);
	}
//]]>
</script>

[Kor]

Math.random() function generates a random number between 0 and 1 (with more or less digits decimals - usually 16).

To obtain a random weighed number between 0 and N you simply multiply the genuine random number with the difference (N-0) and round the result

To round you may use different functions such as
Math.round - automatic
Math.floor - rounds down
Math.ceil - rounds up

It looks like using Math.floor or Math.ceil is a better choise than Math.round (they give a "more randomized" weighed numbers). Math.floor has another advantage, see below.

In your example, you need to obtain a random weighed number between 0 and the lenght of your object type (the number of the objects). Why not lenght-1?... Becouse Math.floor will round for instance 2.99999999999 as 2, and never reach the full 3.

So here we are with the explanation for the fredmv's code

[the_bob]

fred, thanks for the code, thats great!

and Kor, Thanks for the explanation. Random numbers are probably one of the most commonly used things in java script. I really appreciate it.

but one more question, what does the [CDATA[ in freds code do?

[Kor]

Maybe fredmv used an editor with an XML validator, as CDATA sections are used to escape blocks of text containing characters which would otherwise be recognized as markup...

[fredmv]

Good explanations Kor (good guess about the XML validator, however, I manually add the CDATA section in scripts or CSS whenever I use embedded code, however, I usually make the code external anyway)...

[the_bob]

oh, thanks, both of you