How Can I Get a Random Row from an SQLite Table?

SQLite: Achieving Random Ordering with RANDOM()

In the realm of relational databases, ordering data can be essential for various querying purposes. While MySQL offers the RAND() function for generating random ordering, SQLite presents a different approach.

Alternative to RAND() in SQLite

Unlike MySQL, SQLite does not have a dedicated RAND() function. However, there is an alternative method to achieve similar functionality using the RANDOM() expression:

Syntax:

SELECT * FROM table ORDER BY RANDOM() LIMIT 1;

This expression:

• Selects all records from the specified table.
• Orders the results randomly using the RANDOM() expression.
• Limits the query to retrieve only one random record.

Example:

Consider the following table named "items":

id	name
1	Item A
2	Item B
3	Item C

Executing the following query will return one random item from the table:

SELECT * FROM items ORDER BY RANDOM() LIMIT 1;

Note:

SQLite's RANDOM() expression generates a random floating-point number for each row, and the results are sorted in ascending order. This means that the lower the random number, the higher the item's position in the sorted order.

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