Select random rows with SQL…

Select a random row with MySQL:

SELECT column FROM table
ORDER BY RAND()
LIMIT 1

Select a random row with PostgreSQL:

SELECT column FROM table
ORDER BY RANDOM()
LIMIT 1

Select ten random rows with Microsoft SQL Server:

SELECT TOP 10 column1, column2 FROM table
ORDER BY NEWID()

Select a random row with IBM DB2

SELECT column, RAND() as IDX
FROM table
ORDER BY IDX FETCH FIRST 1 ROWS ONLY

Select a random record with Oracle:

SELECT column FROM
( SELECT column FROM table
ORDER BY dbms_random.value )
WHERE rownum = 1

original: google "sql select random record" http://www.petefreitag.com/item/466.cfm