note 79030 added to function.rand

This function generates unique random integers between $min and $max, resets history when new limits are requested or when there are no more numbers to return, never ever hangs or fails, never ever eats more memory than expected. This solution uses static variables in a function, stores previous limits and when those are changed or possible results are exhausted, generates a new list of possible results, then shuffles it and pops one number for each consequent call. PROS: Runs as fast as light when extracting a number, first call time with new limits depends on range size (don't know internal complexity of shuffle()). CONS: Might be quite slow initially with a big range, so probably it is best suited for little ones, and uses static variables so somebody could say "bleah"... but i just can't think a cleaner way to get this done. <?php function unirand($min, $max) { static $s_min = -1; static $s_max = -1; static $s_nums = array(); // if we have new limits if($s_min != $min || $s_max != $max || !count($s_nums)) { // init limits $s_min = $min; $s_max = $max; // create extractions $s_nums = range($s_min, $s_max); shuffle($s_nums); } // return next number return array_pop($s_nums); } ?> ---- Server IP: 213.92.11.19 Probable Submitter: 212.112.241.44 ---- Manual Page -- http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.rand.php Edit -- https://master.php.net/note/edit/79030 Del: integrated -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/79030/integrated Del: useless -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/79030/useless Del: bad code -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/79030/bad+code Del: spam -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/79030/spam Del: non-english -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/79030/non-english Del: in docs -- https://master.php.net/note/delete/79030/in+docs Del: other reasons-- https://master.php.net/note/delete/79030 Reject -- https://master.php.net/note/reject/79030 Search -- https://master.php.net/manage/user-notes.php