Best way to get a random element in MySQL Database

[eluser]xwero[/eluser]
From that discussion i think you can this rule of thumb

i think we should do it case by case, if your database is small, mustapha code can be implemented. otherwise use PHP random code.

They are speaking about tables with more than a million rows.

I think the only way to do this with AR would be

Code:

$query = $this->db->where('picture_ID >= (SELECT FLOOR(MAX(picture_ID) * RAND()) FROM gallery )')->orderby('picture_ID')->limit(4)->get('gallery');

You are working with a subquery and that isn't introduced yet in the AR library.