array_rand()

[Michdd]

As seen here

 

Is it actually 'random' or does it generate by counting a certain entry. For example, I want to create something that will generate a random entry from my array, but I want some things to have a higher likely hood of being picked, so I could just add more than one of those things in the array, but say I placed it in something like this:

 

$input = array("1", "1", "1", "1", "1", "1", "1", "1", "1", "1", "2", "2", "2", "2", "2", "2", "2", "2", "2", "2", "2", "2", "2", );

 

If it was generated by counting say every 3rd option it would output 1 a couple of times, then 2 a couple of times, not exactly 'random'.

[Garethp]

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.

[Mchl]

It's as random as it is possible.

See the example on manual page, where there is srand() function used to initiate random number generator.

[Michdd]

It's as random as it is possible.

See the example on manual page, where there is srand() function used to initiate random number generator.

 

So..

 

$input = array("2", "2", "2", "2", "1", "1", "1", "1");

 

would generally output the same results as:

 

$input = array("1", "2", "1", "2", "1", "2", "1", "2");

 

Right? Basically what I'm asking is that if group the same things in the array together, will it still output just as random results as if I mixed them up, inside the array.

[Mchl]

Yes. Order is irrevelant. The long run statistics will be the same.