How to get all the letters in random order?

[tibberous]

I am trying to get the 26 letters of the alphabet as an array in random order.

 

Sounds easy right?

 

I've been at it 45 minutes - still doesn't work:

 

function random_letters(){
	$letters = array();

	for($i=0;$i<26;$i++){
		$letters[$i] = chr($i+97);
	}


	$retval = array();

	for($i=0;$i<26;$i++){
		$indexes = array_keys($letters);
		$index = array_slice($indexes, $index = floor(rand(0,count($indexes))), 1);
		$index = $index[0];

		$retval[$i] = $letters[$index];
		$retval[$i] = $retval[$i][0];
		unset($letters[$index]);
	}



	return $retval;
}

 

I've decided to say hell with it and just make a database with the 26 letters, then use "select * from letters order by rand()"

 

But I'd like to see it done with php.

 

Only rule is you can't use usort.

 

 

[MMDE]

I think this would work:

$string = 'someword';
$letter_array = explode('', $string);
shuffle($letter_array);
$string = '';
foreach($letter_array AS $letter){
$string .= $letter;
}
echo $string;

Might be a better way?

[Christian F.]

Slightly better, as it does away with an unnecessary loop and explode call:

$lettersArray = range ('a', 'z');
shuffle ($lettersArray);
$lettersRand = implode ('', $lettersArray);

[MMDE]

Slightly better, as it does away with an unnecessary loop and explode call:

$lettersArray = range ('a', 'z');
shuffle ($lettersArray);
$lettersRand = implode ('', $lettersArray);

Yup, I totally forgot implode. xD

[tibberous]

Damn it - I wrote a whole reply and hit disappeared when I hit 'Marked Solved'.

 

Moral: Everything should always only ever be written in ajax, ever.

[Christian F.]

Not sure if I agree with that statement, as it introduces a totally unnecessary HTTP call. For something that is done in 2 or 3 lines of PHP, as shown above. (I take it you actually tried my code?)

Not to mention all of those who either have JS turned off or using browser that doesn't support JS/AJAX. They won't be getting your randomized letters at all, if you're relying upon JS/AJAX.

[PFMaBiSmAd]

Ummm, tibberous' post concerns something the forum software apparently did when he hit a menu button in it.

 

 

[Christian F.]

Ah, then I see. Ignore my statement then. Sorry about the confusion.