array_rand function

[phprookie72]

would like to know how i can tell array_rand not to select a specific elements from an array?

[xyph]

Remove them from the array. Could you please be more specific?

 

You could always shuffle, and then loop until a value that isn't one of the 'bad' elements is found.

[phprookie72]

array_rand function select 2 random elements from an array, is it possible to tell the function not to select a certain elements?

[xyph]

No. You have to program that functionality in manually.

 

I thought I was very straightforward in my first response

[Psycho]

hphrookie72, your requests are very vague and it makes it difficult for us to help you. As xyph stated if you don't want array_rand() to find specific items in an array - remove them. That is how you tell array_rand() not to return them. This kinda sounds like it could be a homework problem, so I'm not going to write any code for you. But, if you post some code you've written and need some help, we can push you in the right direction.

 

But, it all depends on HOW you want to limit the results from array_rand(). Do you know the exact values you want excluded? If so, look into array_diff(). IF you are wanting to exclude elements that 'contain' something in the value you're going to have to write a custom procedure to do that. Either a recursive process to continually get a value using array_rand() that matches your criteria OR preprocess the values in the array to remove ones that you don't want returned. Which one would depend on the size of the array and how many options would not apply.

[Barand]

You may also want to look at array_filter and use that prior to array_rand()