Get random array value in mysql

Question

I am trying to create a mock dataset to test some queries on. How would I get a random selection from an array in mysql. For example:

select id, random(['microsoft', 'chrome', 'firefox']) browser from mytable

score 10 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 27 '17 at 01:47

10

You can use elt() and random():

select id,
       elt(floor(rand() * 3 + 1), 'microsoft', 'chrome', 'firefox') browser
from mytable;

answered Jan 27 '17 at 01:47

Gordon Linoff

1

@David542: https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.7/en/string-functions.html#function_elt – Bill Karwin Jan 27 '17 at 01:57
1

@David542 . . . It chooses a value from a list. – Gordon Linoff Jan 27 '17 at 02:12
@GordonLinoff thanks -- what does "ELT" stand for? (not extract-load-transform, is it?) – David542 Jan 27 '17 at 03:06
@David542 . . . My guess would be "element". – Gordon Linoff Jan 27 '17 at 03:06

1 Answers1