Random item from PHP array = "access array offset" [duplicate]

Question

Im trying to get a single random key => value from an array but im getting the following error. Any ideas what im doing wrong?

$colors = array("Yellow Sun" => "FAE500", "Golden" => "fab600", "Orange Juice" => "FF6D00", "Photo Blue" => "A2E5F4");


$shuffled = shuffle($colors);
print_r($shuffled[0]);

"Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in"

You don't have an index of 0. The color names are your indexes. — Jason K
– Jason K, Commented Apr 11, 2023 at 5:05
Also shuffle() returns true or false. See php.net/manual/en/function.shuffle.php — mighty_dev
– mighty_dev, Commented Apr 11, 2023 at 5:07

mighty_dev · Accepted Answer · 2023-04-11 05:08:35Z

2

shuffle() returns a boolean value indicating whether the shuffle was successful or not. Therefore, $shuffled is a boolean value and not an array. You can use the array_rand() function which returns a random key from an array.

<?php

$keys = array_keys($colors);
$random_key = $keys[array_rand($keys)];
echo $colors[$random_key];

edited Apr 11, 2023 at 5:08

mighty_dev

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answered Apr 11, 2023 at 5:07

AlonS

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4 Comments

Chris Over a year ago

that worked! TY - however I need to access the ket value pair?

Chris Over a year ago

this appears to only give the value. I need both. Any ideas :)

deceze Over a year ago

@Chris The key in this example is $random_key…!

Chris Over a year ago

TY I just can't seem to get the key, only the value shows up. I'll keep at it

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