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

I use this one-liner:

base64_encode(openssl_random_pseudo_bytes(3 * ($length >> 2)));

where length is the length of the desired string (divisible by 4, otherwise it gets rounded down to the nearest number divisible by 4)