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

Here is what I'm using on one of my projects, it's working great and it generates a UNIQUE RANDOM TOKEN:

$timestampz=time();

function generateRandomString($length = 60) {
    $characters = '0123456789abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ';
    $charactersLength = strlen($characters);
    $randomString = '';
    for ($i = 0; $i < $length; $i++) {
        $randomString .= $characters[rand(0, $charactersLength - 1)];
    }
    return $randomString;
}


$tokenparta = generateRandomString();


$token = $timestampz*3 . $tokenparta;

echo $token;

Please note that I multiplied the timestamp by three to create a confusion for whoever user might be wondering how this token is generated ;)

I hope it helps :)