array_rand
(PHP 4, PHP 5)
array_rand — Pick one or more random entries out of an array
Description
Picks one or more random entries out of an array, and returns the key (or keys) of the random entries.
Parameters
-
array -
The input array.
-
num -
Specifies how many entries should be picked.
Return Values
When picking only one entry, array_rand() returns
the key for a random entry. Otherwise, an array of keys for the random
entries is returned. This is done so that random keys can be picked
from the array as well as random values. Trying to pick more elements
than there are in the array will result in an
E_WARNING level error, and NULL will be returned.
Changelog
| Version | Description |
|---|---|
| 5.2.10 | The resulting array of keys is no longer shuffled. |
Examples
Example #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";
?>