---
title: use secrets package over random package
description: Datadog, the leading service for cloud-scale monitoring.
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  Docs > Datadog Security > Code Security > Static Code Analysis (SAST) > SAST
  Rules > use secrets package over random package
---

# use secrets package over random package

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## Metadata{% #metadata %}

**ID:** `python-security/avoid-random`

**Language:** Python

**Severity:** Error

**Category:** Security

**CWE**: [330](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/330.html)

## Description{% #description %}

Make sure to use values that are *actually* random. The `random` module in Python should generally not be used and replaced with the `secrets` module, as noted in the [official Python documentation](https://docs.python.org/3/library/random.html).

#### Learn More{% #learn-more %}

- [CWE-330](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/330.html)
- [Python random module documentation](https://docs.python.org/3/library/random.html)
- [Python secrets module documentation](https://docs.python.org/3/library/secrets.html#module-secrets)

## Non-Compliant Code Examples{% #non-compliant-code-examples %}

```python
from random import randrange

randrange(10) # randrange is not actually random
```

```python
from random import random

v = random() # random is not actually random
```

```python
import random

n = random.randrange(10) # randrange is not actually random
```

```python
import random

n = random.random(1) # random is not actually random
```

```python
import random

n = random.random() # random is not actually random
```

## Compliant Code Examples{% #compliant-code-examples %}

```python
# The random package was not imported
n = random.random()
```
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