PHP Generating a Random Number/String for Images

Question

896ba38b-1808-49de-ace0-c079aed65c5a_f.jpg

I need to generate a random string like above to name images. Basically I don't want to use a predictable format where people you easily script to extraction of all the images from the site I'm building.

I know the PHP rand() function.

To make a string like above would I be best to just use the rand() function many times?

better way to do this? thoughts?

thx

leftclickben · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-11 04:03:57Z

2

Try using the uniqid() function:

http://php.net/manual/en/function.uniqid.php

This generates universally unique IDs like what you are after. Maybe you want to stitch together 2 or more of these, if you want longer strings.

EDIT: You also probably want to set $more_entropy argument to true.

answered Mar 11, 2013 at 4:03

leftclickben

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Dino Babu · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-11 04:18:15Z

1

$rand_val = date('YMDHIS') . rand(11111, 99999);
echo $image_file_name = md5($rand_val) . '.jpg';

// 9da5ea8c52b14305fd11a9c012a23f08.jpg

answered Mar 11, 2013 at 4:18

Dino Babu

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