#50421 [NEW]: Inconsistent behavior in array_rand() after PHP 5.2.10 changes

From: v1d4l0k4 at gmail dot com Operating system: Ubuntu 9.10 PHP version: 5.2.11 PHP Bug Type: Arrays related Bug description: Inconsistent behavior in array_rand() after PHP 5.2.10 changes Description: ------------ PHP 5.2.10 introduced a controversial BC break in array_rand() function that doesn't sort array values when the $num_req param is equal to array count. This was the most incomprehensive change I've seen in the PHP development so far. If I have a random $num_req between 1 and array count I'll need to check if I've to use array_rand() ou shuffle()? It seems so stupid... On the other hand, if this change will remain it need to be fixed anyway: there's no sense in allow array count in $num_req - it returns the array unchanged with no warnings. In this case this parameter should receive a value less than the array count. And it should be nice to have shuffle() use recommendation in the warning if $num_req is equal to array count. BTW, the manual notes about this array_rand() change is very very very incomprehensive. Reproduce code: --------------- <?php $array = range('a', 'z'); foreach (array_rand($array, count($array)) as $key) { print $array[$key]; } ?> Expected result: ---------------- MAYBE: frkzmnvuyiptdcsewbxgjqhloa Actual result: -------------- ALWAYS: abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz -- Edit bug report at http://bugs.php.net/?id=50421&edit=1 -- Try a snapshot (PHP 5.2): http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=50421&r=trysnapshot52 Try a snapshot (PHP 5.3): http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=50421&r=trysnapshot53 Try a snapshot (PHP 6.0): http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=50421&r=trysnapshot60 Fixed in SVN: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=50421&r=fixed Fixed in SVN and need be documented: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=50421&r=needdocs Fixed in release: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=50421&r=alreadyfixed Need backtrace: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=50421&r=needtrace Need Reproduce Script: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=50421&r=needscript Try newer version: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=50421&r=oldversion Not developer issue: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=50421&r=support Expected behavior: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=50421&r=notwrong Not enough info: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=50421&r=notenoughinfo Submitted twice: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=50421&r=submittedtwice register_globals: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=50421&r=globals PHP 4 support discontinued: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=50421&r=php4 Daylight Savings: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=50421&r=dst IIS Stability: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=50421&r=isapi Install GNU Sed: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=50421&r=gnused Floating point limitations: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=50421&r=float No Zend Extensions: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=50421&r=nozend MySQL Configuration Error: http://bugs.php.net/fix.php?id=50421&r=mysqlcfg