php select multiple random keys from array

array_rand returns the random keys as values. You actually want to use $images[$value]['cat']. Also keep in mind that array_rand does not return an array if one item is requested; you must handle that specially.

The key will be the index, value will be the random variable, thus use value instead of key as the index into your images array. Cheers.

Use shuffle if you want your array in random order:

shuffle($images);

foreach($images as $img) {
    echo($img['cat']);
}

Or use array_rand to get a random key:

$key = array_rand($images);

echo($images[$key]['cat']);

You can simply use array_rand and store latest key on variable or somewhere

If random_key == last_used_key then Random_key+1

Not harder than that :-)

Alternative suggestion:

$images = array();
$images[]=array('img'=>'bands.jpg','cat'=>'bands.php');
$images[]=array('img'=>'cake.jpg','cat'=>'cakes.php');
$images[]=array('img'=>'catering.jpg','cat'=>'catering.php');
$images[]=array('img'=>'dj.jpg','cat'=>'djs.php');
$images[]=array('img'=>'dress.jpg','cat'=>'dress_attire.php');
$images[]=array('img'=>'limos.jpg','cat'=>'limos_transportaion.php');
$images[]=array('img'=>'photography.jpg','cat'=>'photography.php');
$images[]=array('img'=>'venues.jpg','cat'=>'venues.php');
$images[]=array('img'=>'wedding_planer.jpg','cat'=>'planning.php');

for ($i = 0; $i < $adDisplay AND sizeof($images) > 1; $i++) {
    $k = array_rand(0, sizeof($images)-1);
    $image = $images[$k];
    unset($images[$k];
    sort($images);
    echo '<a href="' . htmlspecialchars($image['cat']) . '">'
         . '<img src="img/banners/'
         . htmlspecialchars($image['img']) . ' border="0" alt="" />'
         . '</a>';
}

So, picks a random key, removes that record from the array, displays it and re-sorts the array for the next go-round. Continues until enough have been displayed or it runs out of records.