PHP: How to generate a random, unique, alphanumeric string for use in a secret link?

Question

How would it be possible to generate a random, unique string using numbers and letters for use in a verify link? Like when you create an account on a website, and it sends y

Answer 1

function random_string($length = 8) {
    $alphabets = range('A','Z');
    $numbers = range('0','9');
    $additional_characters = array('_','=');
    $final_array = array_merge($alphabets,$numbers,$additional_characters);
       while($length--) {
      $key = array_rand($final_array);

      $password .= $final_array[$key];
                        }
  if (preg_match('/[A-Za-z0-9]/', $password))
    {
     return $password;
    }else{
    return  random_string();
    }

 }