How do I pick randomly from an array?

How to Pick Randomly from an Array: The Easy Way! 🎲

Do you often find yourself needing to select a random element from an array? Don't worry, we've got you covered! In this blog post, we'll address the common issues and provide you with easy solutions to pick randomly from an array. 🌟

The Traditional Solution :page_with_curl:

Let's start with the traditional approach. In the code snippet you provided, you can use the rand function to generate a random index and then access the corresponding element in the array:

myArray = ["stuff", "widget", "ruby", "goodies", "java", "emerald", "etc" ]
item = myArray[rand(myArray.length)]

This method works just fine, but is there a cleaner and more readable solution? 🤔

A Simpler Alternative: 🎯

Good news! We've got a simpler alternative for you. Instead of using rand and length, you can leverage the power of the sample method. 👍

myArray = ["stuff", "widget", "ruby", "goodies", "java", "emerald", "etc"]
item = myArray.sample

Voilà! With just one line of code, you can randomly select an element from the array. The sample method does all the heavy lifting for you. 🙌

The Perks of Shuffling: 🔀

You mentioned the possibility of using myArray.shuffle.first as an alternative. While that works, it creates an unnecessary overhead by shuffling the entire array. Shuffling an entire array just to pick the first element is like taking a detour when you're already at your destination. It works, but it's not the most efficient approach. 😅

Your Turn: 📣

Now that you know two different methods to pick randomly from an array, it's time to put your newfound knowledge into practice. Try using both methods and compare their performance. Share your findings with us in the comments below. We'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences! 💬

Until next time, happy coding! ✨👩‍💻👨‍💻