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# array_rand

(PHP 4 )

array_rand -- Pick one or more random entries out of an array

## Description

mixed array_rand ( array input [, int num_req])

array_rand() is rather useful when you want to pick one or more random entries out of an array. It takes an `input` array and an optional argument `num_req` which specifies how many entries you want to pick - if not specified, it defaults to 1.

If you are picking only one entry, array_rand() returns the key for a random entry. Otherwise, it returns an array of keys for the random entries. This is done so that you can pick random keys as well as values out of the array.

Don't forget to call srand() to seed the random number generator.

Example 1. array_rand() example

    srand ((float) microtime() * 10000000);
    $input = array ("Neo", "Morpheus", "Trinity", "Cypher", "Tank");
    $rand_keys = array_rand ($input, 2);
    print $input[$rand_keys[0]]."\n";
    print $input[$rand_keys[1]]."\n";

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