Difference rand and randn command matlab

[eltrinco]

i am confused between when to use rand and randn . can someone explain to me please?

 

[Simon Bridge]

Both are pseudo-random number generators.
http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/random-number-generation.html

type "help rand" and "help randn" for a description.

rand()
Return a matrix with random elements uniformly distributed 
on the interval (0, 1).  The arguments are handled the same 
as the arguments for `eye'.

randn() 
Return a matrix with normally distributed pseudo-random 
elements having zero mean and variance one.  The arguments 
are handled the same as the arguments for `rand'.

You should be able to see the result by filling a vector with them and plotting.