Picking a random string from an array

Question

Trying to get this code to work. It might be easier to show what I'm trying to do, and what is missing:

<?php
    $array=array(
        "something",
        "something else"
    );
    /*pick a random entry in the array and store it as $output*/;
    if(strpos($output,"else") !== false){
        //do stuff;
    }
    echo "<div>";
    echo $output
    echo "</div>"
?>

As you can see, I'm having trouble trying to store a random entry in $output. What I want to do is to pick a random entry from the array, run a strpos on the result to do additional things if the conditions are met, and then output the same random entry between the divs.

EDIT: In case it's not clear, the line commented with /* and */ is supposed to be a 'fill in the blank' line, and not a 'this comment refers to the lines of code below' comment.

Amal · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-14 17:54:36Z

6

Use array_rand() to get a random entry.

$output = $array[array_rand($array)];

answered Apr 14, 2014 at 17:54

Amal

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3 Comments

Hiigaran Over a year ago

Wouldn't this result in different random results if $output is called in two different places?

Amal Over a year ago

@Hiigaran: Nope. array_rand() will not be called each time you echo it somewhere. Proof: eval.in/136389

Hiigaran Over a year ago

I'll give it a try and see how it goes, then.

Scott Jungwirth · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-14 17:55:17Z

2

Generate a random number between zero and one less than the length of the array, use that as the array index to get a random item from the array.

<?php
$output = $array[rand(0, count($array)-1];

answered Apr 14, 2014 at 17:55

Scott Jungwirth

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