[SOLVED] unique id generator?

[mforan]

i need to generate a unique id, like a kinda password but one that cannot be multple instances.

like a primary key as such, without using auto increment.

 

any ideas?

[DarkWater]

$letters = range('a', 'z');
shuffle($letters);
$new_name = md5(time() . implode('', $letters));

 

That should be unique enough.

[mforan]

and what if the same generated code appears, that means for example i have 2 of "1" "1"....

 

need to be absouluty sure it cannot be the same as one previously

[DarkWater]

If you manage to find an intersection with MD5 using the time and random letters, let me know.

[mforan]

lol i just noticed the time part lol. what if the same time happens *chuckle*

[DarkWater]

lol i just noticed the time part lol. what if the same time happens *chuckle*

 

Plus random letters?  Meh, here:

 

   $letters = range('a', 'z');
   shuffle($letters);
   $new_name = md5(time() . implode('', $letters) . rand());

[PFMaBiSmAd]

There are a finite number of md5 values. Multiple starting strings will produce the same md5 result.

[DarkWater]

Fair enough, take off the MD5 and that's about as unique as you could ask for.

[Lamez]

use a database, and a custom function. store the id's in the DB, then in the function check for the id, if the same run it again!