Skip to main content

sample()

sample<T>(array): T | undefined

Gets a random element from an array.

Type Parameters​

T: T​

The type of elements in the array.

Parameters​

array: readonly T[]​

The array to sample from.

Returns: T | undefined​

A random element, or undefined if the array is empty.

Since​

2.0.0

Performance​

O(1) time & space, direct index access with early return for empty arrays.

Also known as​

draw (Radashi) · randomElem (Modern Dash) · sample (Lodash, es-toolkit, Remeda, Antfu) · ❌ (Ramda, Effect)

Example​

sample([1, 2, 3, 4, 5]);
// => 3 (random)

sample([{ name: 'John' }, { name: 'Jane' }]);
// => { name: 'Jane' } (random)

How it works?​

Returns a random element from an array. O(1) operation — direct index access.

Use Cases​

Pick a random winner from a contest 📌​

Select a lucky participant for prizes or rewards. Perfect for raffles, sweepstakes, or promotional campaigns.

const contestants = [
  { id: "P1", name: "Alice" },
  { id: "P2", name: "Bob" },
  { id: "P3", name: "Charlie" },
  { id: "P4", name: "Diana" },
];

const winner = sample(contestants);
// => { id: "P3", name: "Charlie" }

console.log(`🎉 Congratulations ${winner?.name}!`);

Display a random tip or quote​

Show dynamic content to keep users engaged. Ideal for onboarding screens, dashboards, or loading states.

const tips = [
  "Break large tasks into smaller chunks.",
  "Use keyboard shortcuts to speed up your workflow.",
  "Take a 5-minute break every 25 minutes.",
  "Start your day with the most challenging task.",
];

const dailyTip = sample(tips);
// => "Start your day with the most challenging task."

Pick a random placeholder image​

Select a random placeholder when no image is available. Adds visual variety to empty states and fallback content.

const placeholders = [
  "/img/placeholder-landscape.svg",
  "/img/placeholder-abstract.svg",
  "/img/placeholder-gradient.svg",
];

const fallbackImage = sample(placeholders);
// => "/img/placeholder-abstract.svg"

Pick a random loading message​

Show a different loading message each time to keep users engaged. Perfect for loading screens, splash pages, and progress indicators.

const loadingMessages = [
  "Brewing your data...",
  "Almost there...",
  "Crunching the numbers...",
  "Fetching the good stuff...",
  "Warming up the servers...",
];

const LoadingScreen = () => (
  <div className="loading">
    <Spinner />
    <p>{sample(loadingMessages)}</p>
  </div>
);

Rotate featured content on the homepage without manual curation. Essential for marketplaces, blogs, and content platforms.

const featuredProducts = [
  { id: "p1", name: "Pro Headphones", image: "/img/headphones.jpg" },
  { id: "p2", name: "Smart Watch", image: "/img/watch.jpg" },
  { id: "p3", name: "Wireless Speaker", image: "/img/speaker.jpg" },
];

const spotlight = sample(featuredProducts);
renderHeroBanner(spotlight);