How to return result from ajax call synchronously?

If we don't know what algorithm is used to return a number, can we call it random?

• Suppose there is a function which returns a number, and suppose we don't know what the function is and how it behaves: * it may be using a deterministic algorithm to return value. * or it may be just using rand() function to return a value. * or anything else. * but we don't exactly know what the function does, and we will never know. Then can we say that the value generated by the function is random for us? ****** real life problem ***** In a sql query when all the values are same the "order by" may present result in some order, and that order we can't know. Then can we say that the values will randomly ordered?

• Answer:

  Yes and No. The output of a black box function, is completely random in the sense that output is unpredictable and cannot be known in either deterministic or probabilistic function. Now taking your real-life example, you can say that values will be randomly ordered but you can't make any claim about the properties of its randomness or qualify it i.e. you can't claim that there is no bias and probability of each value being at the top is equal. You don't know if the ordering is following a certain distribution. You can't make a deterministic/probabilistic estimation about the ordering. It may well be the same order, the values were inserted in. Another real-life example is the Multi-threaded applications where ordering of execution is indeterministic. 'Unknown' is a better term to use here than using the term 'random' as it may imply that probability of each ordering is equal. PS: This is completely my opinion. Hope to see answers with more insight.