If you have an ID field in the database you could first get a random number (with a maximum of your largest ID) and then do a
SELECT * from my_table WHERE ID = randomnumber

You might have to then check to see if you actually got a row (in case your ID's aren't consecutive) and repeat until you get a row. The less consecutive your ID field is of course the less efficient this becomes.

I don't know . . I use it, it's never been a problem . . . but I suppose they are right. :-)

If you have an ID field in the database you could first get a random number

The only problem with that is, what if a deleted record's random number is selected?

Some ideas:

select count(*) from rows, pick a random number in between 1 and $count, then

... order by whatever limit $count, 1

Even if "$count" has been deleted, it will pull the next record starting at index $count.

create a second table with a single int() column, populate it with existing record handle id's. As new records are added (and deleted, remove them), drop the id into this table. Do your rand on that, then select the result

.... where id=$rand_id;

1) select count(id) from rows
2) generate a random number between 1 and the result of the query
3) select * from table where id = new randomnumber
if !EOF show data
else run query again
etc.

See previous, what if that record id no longer exists?

Though it **shouldn't** happen, there is a potential for a recursive infinite loop there.

Once you have the count(id) you can setup a loop for that number of times.

then, when your query on the id is NOT EOF, you can break. If you never have a hit the loop will just end on the count.

you use also should the MAX(id) to give you the highest id. So your loop would be:
for (var i = 1; i < count(id); i++) {
sql here - select * from table where id = the random num between 1 and max(id)
if !EOF {
set your variable to the value you want
break loop
}

that way you don't have an infinite loop and you can have a random integer up to the highest value in there.