PHP array_rand() Function (original) (raw)
Last Updated : 20 Jun, 2023
This inbuilt function of PHP is used to fetch a random number of elements from an array. The element is a key and can return one or more than one key. On a practical basis, this is not that useful because the function uses pseudo-random number generator that is not suitable for cryptographic purposes.
Syntax:
array_rand($array, $num)
Parameters: The function takes only two arguments and are described below:
- $array (mandatory): This is a mandatory parameter and refers to the original input array.
- $num (optional): This parameter refers to the number of random numbers needed to be returned. This has to be greater than or equal to one otherwise E_WARNING is thrown along.
Return Value: This function returns the random generated values from the array. The number of returned elements depends on the value of the $num, assigned to the function.
Examples:
Input : $array = ("ram"=>"20", "krishna"=>"42", "aakash"=>"15") $num = 2 Output : Array ( [0] => ram [1] => aakash )
Input : $array = ("ram"=>"20", "krishna"=>"42", "aakash"=>"15") Output : krishna
Below programs illustrates the array_rand() function in PHP:
- In the below program we have passed our second parameter that specifies the number of elements to be returned.
<?php$array=array("ram"=>"20","krishna"=>"42",
``"aakash"=>"15");$num= 2;print_r(array_rand($array,$num));?>
Output:
Array
(
[0] => ram
[1] => krishna
) - Now let’s see what will happen if we don’t pass the second parameter.
<?php$array=array("ram"=>"20","krishna"=>"42",
``"aakash"=>"15");print_r(array_rand($array));?>
Output:
aakash