array_rand(3) php man page | unix.com

ARRAY_RAND(3)								 1							     ARRAY_RAND(3)

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

SYNOPSIS
       mixed array_rand (array	$array, [int  $num = 1])

DESCRIPTION
	Picks one or more random entries out of an array, and returns the key (or keys) of the random entries.

PARAMETERS
	      o $array
		- The input array.

	      o $num
		- Specifies how many entries should be picked.

RETURN VALUES
	When  picking  only  one  entry,  array_rand(3)  returns the key for a random entry. Otherwise, an array of keys for the random entries is
       returned. This is done so that random keys can be picked from the array as well as random values. Trying to pick more elements  than  there
       are in the array will result in an E_WARNING level error, and NULL will be returned.

CHANGELOG
       +--------+---------------------------------------------------+
       |Version |						    |
       |	|						    |
       |	|		     Description		    |
       |	|						    |
       +--------+---------------------------------------------------+
       |5.2.10	|						    |
       |	|						    |
       |	|  The	resulting  array of keys is no longer shuf- |
       |	| fled. 					    |
       |	|						    |
       +--------+---------------------------------------------------+
EXAMPLES
       Example #1

	      array_rand(3) example

	      <?php
	      $input = array("Neo", "Morpheus", "Trinity", "Cypher", "Tank");
	      $rand_keys = array_rand($input, 2);
	      echo $input[$rand_keys[0]] . "
";
	      echo $input[$rand_keys[1]] . "
";
	      ?>

SEE ALSO
       shuffle(3).

PHP Documentation Group 													     ARRAY_RAND(3)