inserting random numbers/letters into field

[abda53]

how can i insert a random string of characters and/or numbers into a field in my database?

i just added 'user_code' to my table, i want to fill this in with random characters so that everyone will have a different user_code..

any ideas? thanks

[steadyguy]

$username ='foo';
$usrCode = md5($username);

Now just insert the $usrCode value into the db. If the user_code field is, for example, varchar(16) , the db will cut off the last 16 characters for you, and you'll have a user_code value that includes numbers and letters, and is about as likely to repeat as Microsoft is likely turn over their source code.