| Python 3.6.5 Documentation > "secrets" — Generate secure random numbers for managing secrets
"secrets" — Generate secure random numbers for managing secrets
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New in version 3.6.
**Source code:** Lib/secrets.py
======================================================================
The "secrets" module is used for generating cryptographically strong
random numbers suitable for managing data such as passwords, account
authentication, security tokens, and related secrets.
In particularly, "secrets" should be used in preference to the default
pseudo-random number generator in the "random" module, which is
designed for modelling and simulation, not security or cryptography.
See also: **PEP 506**
Random numbers
==============
The "secrets" module provides access to the most secure source of
randomness that your operating system provides.
class secrets.SystemRandom
A class for generating random numbers using the highest-quality
sources provided by the operating system. See
"random.SystemRandom" for additional details.
secrets.choice(sequence)
Return a randomly-chosen element from a non-empty sequence.
secrets.randbelow(n)
Return a random int in the range [0, *n*).
secrets.randbits(k)
Return an int with *k* random bits.
Generating tokens
=================
The "secrets" module provides functions for generating secure tokens,
suitable for applications such as password resets, hard-to-guess URLs,
and similar.
secrets.token_bytes([nbytes=None])
Return a random byte string containing *nbytes* number of bytes. If
*nbytes* is "None" or not supplied, a reasonable default is used.
>>> token_bytes(16)
b'\xebr\x17D*t\xae\xd4\xe3S\xb6\xe2\xebP1\x8b'
secrets.token_hex([nbytes=None])
Return a random text string, in hexadecimal. The string has
*nbytes* random bytes, each byte converted to two hex digits. If
*nbytes* is "None" or not supplied, a reasonable default is used.
>>> token_hex(16)
'f9bf78b9a18ce6d46a0cd2b0b86df9da'
secrets.token_urlsafe([nbytes=None])
Return a random URL-safe text string, containing *nbytes* random
bytes. The text is Base64 encoded, so on average each byte results
in approximately 1.3 characters. If *nbytes* is "None" or not
supplied, a reasonable default is used.
>>> token_urlsafe(16)
'Drmhze6EPcv0fN_81Bj-nA'
How many bytes should tokens use?
---------------------------------
To be secure against brute-force attacks, tokens need to have
sufficient randomness. Unfortunately, what is considered sufficient
will necessarily increase as computers get more powerful and able to
make more guesses in a shorter period. As of 2015, it is believed
that 32 bytes (256 bits) of randomness is sufficient for the typical
use-case expected for the "secrets" module.
For those who want to manage their own token length, you can
explicitly specify how much randomness is used for tokens by giving an
"int" argument to the various "token_*" functions. That argument is
taken as the number of bytes of randomness to use.
Otherwise, if no argument is provided, or if the argument is "None",
the "token_*" functions will use a reasonable default instead.
Note: That default is subject to change at any time, including
during maintenance releases.
Other functions
===============
secrets.compare_digest(a, b)
Return "True" if strings *a* and *b* are equal, otherwise "False",
in such a way as to reduce the risk of timing attacks. See
"hmac.compare_digest()" for additional details.
Recipes and best practices
==========================
This section shows recipes and best practices for using "secrets" to
manage a basic level of security.
Generate an eight-character alphanumeric password:
import string
alphabet = string.ascii_letters + string.digits
password = ''.join(choice(alphabet) for i in range(8))
Note: Applications should not store passwords in a recoverable
format, whether plain text or encrypted. They should be salted and
hashed using a cryptographically-strong one-way (irreversible) hash
function.
Generate a ten-character alphanumeric password with at least one
lowercase character, at least one uppercase character, and at least
three digits:
import string
alphabet = string.ascii_letters + string.digits
while True:
password = ''.join(choice(alphabet) for i in range(10))
if (any(c.islower() for c in password)
and any(c.isupper() for c in password)
and sum(c.isdigit() for c in password) >= 3):
break
Generate an XKCD-style passphrase:
# On standard Linux systems, use a convenient dictionary file.
# Other platforms may need to provide their own word-list.
with open('/usr/share/dict/words') as f:
words = [word.strip() for word in f]
password = ' '.join(choice(words) for i in range(4))
Generate a hard-to-guess temporary URL containing a security token
suitable for password recovery applications:
url = 'https://mydomain.com/reset=' + token_urlsafe()
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