How to select a random record from a MySQL database?

Question

I am using the following query to select 1 random record -

SELECT name FROM table WHERE id >= (SELECT FLOOR( MAX(id) * RAND()) FROM table ) ORDER BY id LIMIT 1

but it gives me the same set of records every time I call it. How do I get better random record?

Delan Azabani · Accepted Answer · 2010-05-06 05:24:36Z

4

Try this:

SELECT * FROM tableName ORDER BY RAND() LIMIT 1

answered May 6, 2010 at 5:24

Delan Azabani

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1 Comment

This will not perform well for large number of records.