How does the wheel's randomness work?

Spin the Names uses a true random selection mechanism. Unlike some similar tools that might pre-determine the result before animation, our wheel's outcome is genuinely determined by where the spinner stops after a physics-based animation.

When you click the spin button or press the spacebar:

1. The wheel is given a random initial velocity
2. Physics-based deceleration is applied over time
3. The final resting position determines the winner

This approach ensures that the selection process is fair and truly random.

Is the wheel truly random?

Yes, the wheel uses JavaScript's cryptographically strong random number generation to determine the initial spin parameters. The outcome isn't predetermined - it's calculated in real-time based on the physics of the spin and where the wheel naturally comes to rest.

To ensure fairness:

• Each entry has an equal chance of being selected if all slices are of equal size
• The animation is purely visual and doesn't manipulate the outcome
• The same random number generators used in cryptography help determine the spin dynamics

Can I influence which option gets picked?

The wheel's selection cannot be influenced once spinning has begun. The only ways to affect probability are:

• Adding duplicate entries: If you add the same name multiple times, it will have a proportionally higher chance of being selected (e.g., entering "Option A" three times gives it three times the probability)
• Adjusting slice sizes: Some advanced options allow for different sized slices, which affects probability proportionally

Beyond these legitimate methods, there is no way to manipulate or predict the outcome of a spin.

Technical implementation details

For those interested in the technical details:

• The wheel uses the browser's crypto.getRandomValues() when available, falling back to Math.random() with additional entropy in older browsers
• The physics model includes angular momentum, friction, and deceleration algorithms
• The random values determine:
• Initial angular velocity (how fast the wheel spins)
• Deceleration rate (how quickly it slows down)
• Small variance factors (for natural-feeling motion)

Why does it sometimes land near the same spot?

While the wheel is truly random, human perception tends to notice patterns even in random data. If you spin the wheel many times, the results should distribute evenly across all options over the long term. Any perceived patterns are simply statistical variance, which is normal in random systems.