Get X random elements from table in database using Linq or lambda in C#

Question

I have a database with x amount users and I want to randomly get all the users and then write like 50 users out on my site. Right now I\'m only using .take(50)

Answer 1

There are 2 ways of doing this depending on how many users are in your system

1.

List ids = new List(50);
int total = userList.Count();
Random r = new Random();
while (ids.Count() < 50)
{
    var next = r.Next(total);
    if (!ids.Contains(next))
        ids.Add(next);
}
var users = userList.Where(a => ids.Contains(a.ID));

2.

MikeSW beat me to that one

Difference between the options is that 1) involves 2 queries queries to the database and 2) involves loading all of the users from the database just to load 50 of them. It's up to you which is a better way of doing it.