get random value from a PHP array, but make it unique

user_376947 0
Viewed 22153

I want to select a random value from a array, but keep it unique as long as possible.

For example if I'm selecting a value 4 times from a array of 4 elements, the selected value should be random, but different every time.

If I'm selecting it 10 times from the same array of 4 elements, then obviously some values will be duplicated.

I have this right now, but I still get duplicate values, even if the loop is running 4 times:

$arr = $arr_history = ('abc', 'def', 'xyz', 'qqq');

for($i = 1; $i < 5; $i++){
  if(empty($arr_history)) $arr_history = $arr; 
  $selected = $arr_history[array_rand($arr_history, 1)];  
  unset($arr_history[$selected]); 
  // do something with $selected here...
}
random arrays php
9 Answers
$isShowCategory = array();
for ($i=0; $i <5 ; $i++) { 
   $myCategory = array_rand($arrTrCategoryApp,1); 
   if (!in_array($myCategory, $isShowCategory)) {
      $isShowCategory[] = $myCategory;

      #do something 

   }
}
user_123157420
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