Select random line in SQL database

Question

Hi,

I would like to select a random line in my database. I saw this solution on a website:

SELECT column FROM table
ORDER BY RAND()
LIMIT 1

This SQL query run but someone said me that it was a non performant query. Is there another solution ?

Thx

Answer 1

It is. You have to count rows number with

SELECT COUNT(*) FROM `table`;

After this with php function mt_rand() get the random from 1 to $count and get it with query:

SELECT `column` FROM `table` LIMIT $rand, 1

Answer 2

There's a lot more discussion of this subject, including performance implications and strategies for different DBMSs, in this question.