Picking a Random Object in an NSArray

Question

Say I have an array with objects, 1, 2, 3 and 4. How would I pick a random object from this array?

Answer 1

@Darryl's answer is correct, but could use some minor tweaks:

NSUInteger randomIndex = arc4random() % theArray.count;

Modifications:

• Using arc4random() over rand() and random() is simpler because it does not require seeding (calling srand() or srandom()).
• The modulo operator (%) makes the overall statement shorter, while also making it semantically clearer.

Answer 2

This is the simplest solution I could come up with:

id object = array.count == 0 ? nil : array[arc4random_uniform(array.count)];

It's necessary to check count because a non-nil but empty NSArray will return 0 for count, and arc4random_uniform(0) returns 0. So without the check, you'll go out of bounds on the array.

This solution is tempting but is wrong because it will cause a crash with an empty array:

id object = array[arc4random_uniform(array.count)];

For reference, here's the documentation:

u_int32_t
arc4random_uniform(u_int32_t upper_bound);

arc4random_uniform() will return a uniformly distributed random number less than upper_bound.

The man page doesn't mention that arc4random_uniform returns 0 when 0 is passed as upper_bound.

Also, arc4random_uniform is defined in <stdlib.h>, but adding the #import wasn't necessary in my iOS test program.

Answer 3

 srand([[NSDate date]  timeIntervalSince1970]);

 int inx =rand()%[array count];

inx is the random number.

where srand() can be anywhere in the program before the random picking function.

Answer 4

@interface NSArray<ObjectType>  (Random)
- (nullable ObjectType)randomObject;
@end

@implementation NSArray (Random)

- (nullable id)randomObject
{
    id randomObject = [self count] ? self[arc4random_uniform((u_int32_t)[self count])] : nil;
    return randomObject;
}

@end

Edit: Updated for Xcode 7. Generics, nullability

Answer 5

ObjectType *objectVarName = [array objectAtIndex:arc4random_uniform((int)(array.count - 1))];

if you want to cast that to an int, here's the solution for that (useful for when you need a random int from an array of non-sequential numbers, in the case of randomizing an enum call, etc)

int intVarName = (int)[(NSNumber *)[array objectAtIndex:arc4random_uniform((int)(array.count - 1))] integerValue];

Answer 6

Perhaps something along the lines of:

NSUInteger randomIndex = (NSUInteger)floor(random()/RAND_MAX * [theArray count]);

Don't forget to initialize the random number generator (srandomdev(), for example).

NOTE: I've updated to use -count instead of dot syntax, per the answer below.