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Workato Expression Language
Standard library

Random functions ​

Random functions generate a new value on every evaluation. Use them for identifiers, such as UUIDs for records without destination-assigned keys, and for idempotency keys that prevent duplicate processing.

A RANDOM VALUE ISN'T REPRODUCIBLE

Every call returns a different value. A later step can't reproduce a value from an earlier step, and a rerun generates a new value. Store the value in a field and reuse it when downstream steps need it.

Don't use a random value in anything that must match across systems unless you also store it, for the same reason.

The following examples show the length of each function's output instead of a literal value because each evaluation returns a different value.

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Identifiers ​

The following functions generate a fresh identifier suitable for a record or an idempotency key:

uuid ​

Generates a version 4 UUID as a 36-character string, in the standard 8-4-4-4-12 hyphenated form.

Use uuid by default. Its length makes a collision impractical, and every system that accepts an identifier recognizes the format. It takes no arguments.

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uuid()
Generate a UUID and measure its length

The following example generates a UUID and measures its length:

Formula

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length(uuid())

Output

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36

A generated value looks like f81d4fae-7dec-41d0-a765-00a0c91e6bf6.

random_hex ​

Generates a given number of random bytes and returns them as twice as many hexadecimal characters.

Use it where a system wants an opaque token but doesn't accept the hyphens in a UUID.

text
random_hex(bytes)
ParameterDescription
bytesHow many random bytes to generate. The string returned is twice this long.
Generate a random hex string and measure its length

The following example generates a random hex string and measures its length:

Formula

text
length(random_hex(16))

Output

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32

Numbers ​

The following functions generate a random number within a range:

random_int ​

Returns a random integer between min and max, both included.

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random_int(min, max)
ParameterDescription
minLowest possible value, included.
maxHighest possible value, included.

random_float ​

Returns a random Float between 0.0 and 1.0, including the lower bound but excluding the upper.

Don't use random_float for anything requiring exact decimal arithmetic, because it returns a Float. Refer to Data types. It takes no arguments.

text
random_float()

Raw bytes ​

The following function generates raw random bytes, for a salt or an initialization vector:

random_bytes ​

Returns a given number of random bytes as a Binary value.

Use it where you genuinely need a byte sequence, such as a salt or an initialization vector for crypto functions. random_hex or uuid gives you a string directly for an identifier you intend to put in a field or a URL.

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random_bytes(count)
ParameterDescription
countHow many bytes to generate.
Generate random bytes and measure their length

The following example generates random bytes and measures their length:

Formula

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byte_length(random_bytes(8))

Output

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8
  • Crypto functions: Information about using random bytes as salts and initialization vectors.
  • Binary functions: Information about byte_length, and how to turn Binary into hex or base64 text.
  • Data types: Information about Binary, Float, and Decimal.

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