Display only 5 or 10 from mysql_query($result)

[itbeings]

I want to display only 5 or 10 from my SELECT * FROM table_name; query.
If the query selects all from the table_name, I want it to randomly pick any 5 or 10. and when the page is refreshed it will run again and display different values, selecting randonly.
How can I go about this in php?

[GaryS]

Here's a way to do it in your query

SELECT * FROM table_name ORDER BY RAND() LIMIT 10;

(Think this is quite slow, so not recommended for large tables.)

[XeroSiS]

what would be recommended for a large table?

[aussie girl]

There's also no guarantee that some of the results aren't going to be the same as the ones before, you need to include a DISTINCT on one your column names, that may also make it quicker

[GaryS]

what would be recommended for a large table?


This (http://www.greggdev.com/web/articles.php?id=6) is worth a read.