php echo random value from text fields

Question

I want to post all text box responses to results.php and then randomly choose one of the responses to display.

the form:

<form action="results.php" method="post">
<input maxlength="30" name="friend[]" size="30" type="text" placeholder="Enter an option" />
<input maxlength="30" name="friend[]" size="30" type="text" placeholder="Enter an option" />
<input maxlength="30" name="friend[]" size="30" type="text" placeholder="Enter an option" />
<input maxlength="30" name="friend[]" size="30" type="text" placeholder="Enter an option" />
<input type="submit" value="Submit" />

the php contents (obviously wrong, but something like this?)

foreach ($_POST['friend'] as $value) {          
    if ($value) {
      echo mt_rand($value);
    }
}

jeroen · Accepted Answer · 2012-10-08 22:32:20Z

1

You could use array_rand:

$random_input = $_POST['friend'][array_rand($_POST['friend'])];

answered Oct 8, 2012 at 22:32

jeroen

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4 Comments

badluckbarry Over a year ago

Worked perfectly thanks! Can i ask what is the difference between your use of random, and that of Alien's post? Is there one which is more valid or do they both provide the exact same outcome?

jeroen Over a year ago

@badluckbarry Forget my previous comment, the most important advantage is that you are not limited to sequential numbers starting at 0 for your keys; you can have any kind of array-key (numerical / string) and if you remove items it will still work.

SeanCannon Over a year ago

jeroen is right, though for this particular use case it'll always be a 0-index based array.

jeroen Over a year ago

@AlienWebguy In this case, true, but it might lead to unexpected bugs in the future if someone decides to use for example the friend's id as an array key.

SeanCannon · Accepted Answer · 2012-10-08 22:32:42Z

0

echo $_POST['friend'][ rand(0, count($_POST['friend']) - 1) ];

answered Oct 8, 2012 at 22:32

SeanCannon

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