Magic 8 Ball

How to use it

1. 1

   Ask a question

   Think of a yes-or-no question, or type it in to keep it in focus.

2. 2

   Shake the ball

   Press the button and the ball shakes, then an answer floats up into the window.

3. 3

   Read the answer

   You get one of the twenty classic replies at random. Shake again for a fresh one.

When it comes in handy

Frequently asked questions

What are the possible answers?

It uses the classic twenty replies: ten that lean positive, like "It is certain" and "Yes, definitely", five that sit on the fence, like "Ask again later", and five that lean negative, like "My reply is no". Each shake picks one of the twenty at random.

Are the answers weighted toward yes?

The twenty answers themselves split into ten positive, five non-committal and five negative, which is the traditional mix. The draw between them is even, so each of the twenty has the same chance on every shake.

Do I have to type my question?

No. The question box is there to help you focus, but the ball does not read it. You can simply hold the question in your head, shake, and take the answer.

Is the result actually random?

Yes. Picks, spins, rolls and shuffles use your browser’s built-in random number source, so every option has the same chance each time. There is no hidden weighting and no memory of past results, so a run of the same answer is just chance, not a pattern.

Does anything I enter get sent to a server?

No. Everything runs locally in your browser. The names, options, images or beats you put in are handled on your own device, nothing is uploaded, and nothing is logged or stored. Once the page has loaded, it keeps working even if you go offline.