If the array elements are unique, and are all integers or strings, here is a simple way to pick $n random *values* (not keys) from an array $array:
<?php array_rand(array_flip($array), $n); ?>
array_rand
(PHP 4, PHP 5)
array_rand — Pick one or more random entries out of an array
Beskrivelse
Picks one or more random entries out of an array, and returns the key (or keys) of the random entries.
Parametre
-
input -
The input array.
-
num_req -
Specifies how many entries you want to pick. Trying to pick more elements than there are in the array will result in an
E_WARNINGlevel error.
Returnerings Værdier
If you are picking only one entry, array_rand() returns the key for a random entry. Otherwise, it returns an array of keys for the random entries. This is done so that you can pick random keys as well as values out of the array.
ChangeLog
| Version | Beskrivelser |
|---|---|
| 5.2.10 | The resulting array of keys is no longer shuffled. |
| 4.2.0 | The random number generator is seeded automatically. |
Eksempler
Eksempel #1 array_rand() example
<?php
$input = array("Neo", "Morpheus", "Trinity", "Cypher", "Tank");
$rand_keys = array_rand($input, 2);
echo $input[$rand_keys[0]] . "\n";
echo $input[$rand_keys[1]] . "\n";
?>
add a note
User Contributed Notes 4 notes
Anonymous ¶
14 years ago
Anonymous ¶
11 years ago
It doesn't explicitly say it in the documentation, but PHP won't pick the same key twice in one call.
grzeniufication ¶
6 years ago
<?php
/**
* Wraps array_rand call with additional checks
*
* TLDR; not so radom as you'd wish.
*
* NOTICE: the closer you get to the input arrays length, for the n parameter, the output gets less random.
* e.g.: array_random($a, count($a)) == $a will yield true
* This, most certainly, has to do with the method used for making the array random (see other comments).
*
* @throws OutOfBoundsException – if n less than one or exceeds size of input array
*
* @param array $array – array to randomize
* @param int $n – how many elements to return
* @return array
*/
function array_random(array $array, int $n = 1): array
{
if ($n < 1 || $n > count($array)) {
throw new OutOfBoundsException();
}
return ($n !== 1)
? array_values(array_intersect_key($array, array_flip(array_rand($array, $n))))
: array($array[array_rand($array)]);
}
grzeniufication ¶
6 years ago
<?php
// An example how to fetch multiple values from array_rand
$a = [ 'a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e', 'f', 'g' ];
$n = 3;
// If you want to fetch multiple values you can try this:
print_r( array_intersect_key( $a, array_flip( array_rand( $a, $n ) ) ) );
// If you want to re-index keys wrap the call in 'array_values':
print_r( array_values( array_intersect_key( $a, array_flip( array_rand( $a, $n ) ) ) ) );
