Shuffle array in C

Question

I\'m looking for a function in ANSI C that would randomize an array just like PHP\'s shuffle() does. Is there such a function or do I have to write it on my own

Answer 1

There isn't a function in the C standard to randomize an array.

• Look at Knuth - he has algorithms for the job.
• Or look at Bentley - Programming Pearls or More Programming Pearls.
• Or look in almost any algorithms book.

Ensuring a fair shuffle (where every permutation of the original order is equally likely) is simple, but not trivial.