Insert a random value from a php array in MySQL? [duplicate]

Question

I would like to insert a random value from a php array into a mysql table.

My php array is $profile_outM = (3,6,7)

The following command works nicely and sets user_profile to 7 for all users having user_UFR equal to 2:

UPDATE `users` SET `user_profile` = '$profile_outM[3]' WHERE `user_UFR`= 2

But how can I select a random value from $profile_outM ?

Best,

HERE is the solution (might not be very elegant / efficient) but it works:

1. Starting with $profile_outM as a string

2. I convert to an array and get the number of element

profile2array = explode(",", $profile_outM);

$length_profile2array = count($profile2array);

3. Then

"SET @myValues = '$profile_outM'"

"UPDATE `users` SET `user_profile` = SUBSTRING_INDEX(REVERSE(SUBSTRING_INDEX(@Values, ',', FLOOR(1+RAND()*$length_profile2array))),',',1) WHERE `user_UFR`=2"

4. This way, all users get a different value.

W

Answer 1

You can use array_rand() as @Victorbzh mentioned, or you can use:

$val = $array[mt_rand(0, count($array) - 1];

The above generates a random number using mt_rand($min, $max) ($max is inclusive). Array indexes start from 0, and count() gets the number of elements in the array.

Security Note 1: array_rand() and mt_rand() do not generate cryptographically secure values. If you want cryptographically secure values, use random_int()

Security Note 2: UPDATE `users` SET `user_profile` = '$profile_outM[3]' WHERE `user_UFR`= 2: It seems you are not using prepared statements. Make sure to use prepared statements when you are using input from the user.