To generate an ordinary 16-character alphanumeric string, choose each character from a defined alphabet and join the results. Use Python’s secrets module instead of random when the string is a password, authentication token, or other security-sensitive value.
Generate an ordinary random string
For sample data, simulations, or other uses that do not require cryptographic unpredictability, combine random.choice() with an alphabet from string:
import random
import string
alphabet = string.ascii_letters + string.digits
value = ''.join(random.choice(alphabet) for _ in range(16))
print(value)This produces exactly 16 characters, each selected from uppercase letters, lowercase letters, and digits. Change 16 to the desired length, or change alphabet to control which characters can appear.
Python documents random as deterministic and unsuitable for cryptographic purposes. Its Mersenne Twister generator has a period of 2**19937-1, but a long period does not make it appropriate for secrets. See the Python random module documentation.
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Generate a secure string with an exact length
For a secret that must use a custom alphabet and have an exact character count, use secrets.choice() in the same pattern:
import secrets
import string
alphabet = string.ascii_letters + string.digits
secret = ''.join(secrets.choice(alphabet) for _ in range(32))
print(secret)This returns exactly 32 characters selected from the specified letters and digits. secrets is Python’s security-oriented module for values such as passwords, account authentication, and security tokens. Its interface is documented at Python’s secrets documentation.
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Choose the alphabet deliberately
string.ascii_letterscontains uppercase and lowercase ASCII letters.string.digitscontains decimal digits.string.punctuationcan be added if punctuation is permitted by the system that will accept the value.
For example, an exact-length string that also allows punctuation can use alphabet = string.ascii_letters + string.digits + string.punctuation. Be mindful that some characters need escaping or are awkward in URLs, shells, and configuration files.
Choose the right method for the output you need
| Need | Method | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Non-secret randomized text | random.choice(alphabet) repeated and joined |
Convenient, but not suitable for security-sensitive values. |
| Secret from a custom alphabet with an exact character count | secrets.choice(alphabet) repeated and joined |
Security-oriented selection; output length equals the number of iterations. |
| URL-safe token | secrets.token_urlsafe(nbytes) |
URL-safe encoded output; length is approximate rather than an exact character count. |
| Hexadecimal token | secrets.token_hex(nbytes) |
Each random byte is represented by two hexadecimal characters. |
Generate a URL-safe or hexadecimal token
When the output is intended to be a token rather than a fixed-length string from a custom alphabet, use a dedicated helper:
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import secrets
url_token = secrets.token_urlsafe(32)
hex_token = secrets.token_hex(32)
print(url_token)
print(hex_token)The argument is a number of random bytes, not a requested character count. token_urlsafe(32) produces Base64-encoded URL-safe text averaging approximately 1.3 characters per input byte, so its output is not guaranteed to have an exact character length. token_hex(32) represents each byte with two hexadecimal characters. If the exact length matters, use secrets.choice() with a known alphabet instead.
The Python secrets documentation describes 32 bytes (256 bits) as sufficient for typical use cases as understood in 2015, while noting that suitable entropy needs can change as computers become more capable and the token helper default may change. Treat that statement as dated guidance, not a permanent security guarantee. Choose token size according to your application’s requirements.
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Generate a password with required character classes
If a password policy requires at least one character from several classes, generate secure candidates and retry until the constraints are met. This example requires at least one lowercase letter, one uppercase letter, and three digits in a ten-character password:
import secrets
import string
alphabet = string.ascii_letters + string.digits
while True:
password = ''.join(secrets.choice(alphabet) for _ 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
print(password)For a policy with many constraints, another approach is to select at least one secure character from each required class, fill the remaining positions securely from the combined alphabet, and securely shuffle the result. That makes the required composition explicit, but it must still be implemented carefully to satisfy the full policy.
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Generating a password is separate from storing one: Python’s secrets guidance says applications should store passwords as salted hashes using a strong one-way function, not in recoverable form.
Common mistakes and fixes
- Using
randomfor a token or password: replace it withsecrets.choice(),secrets.token_urlsafe(), orsecrets.token_hex(), according to the required output. - Expecting
token_urlsafe(nbytes)to return exactlynbytescharacters: the argument counts random bytes before encoding. Use repeatedsecrets.choice()when the character count must be exact. - Calling
random.randbytes()for security tokens: Python’srandomdocumentation directs security-sensitive code tosecrets.token_bytes()instead. - Allowing characters that the destination rejects: define an alphabet that meets the destination’s rules, then generate from that alphabet rather than filtering the result afterward.
- Assuming a generated password is safely stored: generation does not provide password storage; store passwords using a salted, strong one-way hash.
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