RAND()

USAGE

RAND()

DETAILS

RAND() is a mathematical function that returns a random non-negative floating-point number less than 1.

To generate a random integer value in the range x .. y (inclusive) you can multiply the returned value by (y - x + 1), convert the value to an integer, and add x.

EXAMPLES

This generates a random integer value that ranges from 1 to 5 (inclusive):

SELECT FLOOR(RAND()*5) + 1 AS '1st run';

+---------+
| 1st run |
+---------+
|       2 |
+---------+

SELECT FLOOR(RAND()*5) + 1 AS '2nd run';

+---------+
| 2nd run |
+---------+
|       5 |
+---------+

CREATE TABLE rand_example (
  x VARCHAR(10)
);

INSERT INTO rand_example VALUES
  ('one'), ('two'), ('three');

SELECT x AS '1st run'
FROM rand_example
ORDER BY RAND();

+---------+
| 1st run |
+---------+
| two     |
| one     |
| three   |
+---------+

SELECT x AS '2nd run'
 FROM rand_example
 ORDER BY RAND();

+---------+
| 2nd run |
+---------+
| one     |
| three   |
| two     |
+---------+

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