Generate Random Data

Overview

A random data API and random number generator API in one: pick a type and get JSON test data back. There are fourteen types: number, dice, coin, boolean, string, uuid, guid, color, phone, name, email, username, address and date. Numbers, dice, coins, booleans and strings come from a cryptographically secure generator, with min, max, decimals and unique (no repeats) for numbers, sides for dice, and length and charset for strings. Names, emails, usernames, phone numbers, addresses and dates are realistic fake values for seeding test databases and mock APIs; they don't belong to real people. The Free plan returns one value per call; paid plans return up to 100 at a time and can attach an AI-generated face to each name.

Live Test Generate Random Data Source →

Formula

One function covers the whole catalog: the first argument names the source, the next are its inputs, and the field after them says which single value lands in the cell. Formulas covers the grammar that applies to all of them.

=VERVE("randomgenerator", "data")

Inputs

Required inputs are positional, in the order below, followed by the field. Everything else is passed as a "name", value pair after that — the same shape as SUMIFS. Premium inputs are accepted on every plan but only take effect on plans that include them.

Input	Type	Where it goes	Description
`type`Optional	string	"type", value	The type of random data to generate `numberdicephonedatecoinuuidguidcolor`+6 default number
`count`OptionalPremium	integer	"count", value	The number of random data to generate (1 to 100) default 1 · range 1–100
`includeAvatar`OptionalPremium	boolean	"includeAvatar", value	Include an AI-generated face avatar (only applies when type=name)
`min`Optional	number	"min", value	Smallest number to draw, inclusive (type=number). Defaults to 0
`max`Optional	number	"max", value	Largest number to draw, inclusive (type=number). Defaults to 999999 default 999999
`decimals`Optional	integer	"decimals", value	Decimal places for type=number (0 to 10); 0 draws whole numbers range 0–10
`unique`Optional	boolean	"unique", value	Draw without repeats (type=number with whole numbers, or type=dice)
`sides`Optional	integer	"sides", value	Number of sides on each die for type=dice (2 to 1000) default 6 · range 2–1000
`length`Optional	integer	"length", value	Length of each value for type=string (1 to 256) default 16 · range 1–256
`charset`Optional	string	"charset", value	Characters for type=string `alphanumericalphanumerichexlowercaseuppercase` default alphanumeric

Passing an option

=VERVE("randomgenerator", "data", "type", "number")

What lands in your sheet

The field — the argument after the inputs — is what makes the formula resolve to one cell. Its value is a dot-path from the table below, so swapping it is how you pull a different value — one formula per column.

Seeing everything at once

Leave the field out and the formula returns the whole response instead: two columns, field name on the left and value on the right, spilling from the cell you typed in.

=VERVE("randomgenerator")

Good for exploring, not for filling down

The second row's table would land on top of the first's, and every cell after the first reads #REF! (#SPILL! in Excel). Keep one per sheet, or name a field, and leave the cells below and to the right empty.

Response fields

Paths are relative to data. Each one is exactly what the field argument accepts, so swapping it is how you pull a different value into a cell. On a plan without a Premium field the cell reads #PREMIUM(field) rather than a value, so a locked field never looks like a real answer.

Use as the field	Type	Example cell value	Description
`type`	string	`phone`	The kind of random data generated (e.g. phone, name, email)
`count`	number	`10`	Number of random values generated
`data`	array	`["967-950-4587","792-611-7468 x1293","(933) 311-9829"]`	The generated random values; item shape depends on the requested type

When a cell doesn't fill

A failed lookup returns readable text starting with #ERR rather than a spreadsheet error, because Excel cannot show a custom message on a real error — you would get a bare #VALUE! with no reason. The trade-off is that IFERROR() will not catch it; test with LEFT(cell, 4) = "#ERR" instead. Error handling covers the rest.

Cell reads	What happened
`#ERR Not connected`	No API key saved. Open the side panel and connect your account.
`#ERR Replace <name> with a cell or value`	A preview formula was copied as-is. Swap the placeholder for a cell reference.
`#ERR No "x" in randomgenerator`	An option name this source does not take. The message lists the ones it does.
`#ERR No data point "…"`	The field path is not in the response. Check it against the table above.
`#PREMIUM(field)`	The field exists but your plan does not include it.
`#ERR Out of credits`	The cycle's credits are spent. Usage resets on your billing date.

Before the formula works

The add-in reads the API key you saved once in the side panel — the key never goes in the formula, so a shared sheet does not leak it and a collaborator without access simply sees the last calculated values.

Install the add-in for Google Sheets or Excel.
Open the side panel and sign in, or paste a key from your dashboard.
Type the formula above into any cell.

Use cases

Database Seeding: Populate staging tables with synthetic names, addresses, and phone numbers before running integration tests against newly deployed schemas.
UI Prototype Mocking: Front-end developers render placeholder user profiles with generated usernames, emails, and color names while building interface layouts.
Unique Key Generation: When verifying record deduplication pipelines, QA engineers inject generated UUIDs and timestamps into intake streams.
Game Mechanics Simulation: To test random drop rates and turn orders, game creators draw coin flips and dice rolls directly into prototype loops.

Other ways to use Generate Random Data

Set up Generate Random Data on VerveSheets, or reach the same source a different way. Your VerveSheets account and credits work on all of them — one key, one balance.

Call it as a REST APIOne HTTPS endpoint and an x-api-key header, with SDKs for Node, Python and .NET.APIVerve →Reference →

Give it to an AI agentConnect over MCP and your agent calls it as a native tool — Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT.VerveKit →Reference →