# random_compat
[![Build Status](https://travis-ci.org/paragonie/random_compat.svg?branch=v1.x)](https://travis-ci.org/paragonie/random_compat)
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PHP 5.x polyfill for `random_bytes()` and `random_int()` created and maintained
by [Paragon Initiative Enterprises](https://paragonie.com).
Although this library *should* function in earlier versions of PHP, we will only
consider issues relevant to [supported PHP versions](https://secure.php.net/supported-versions.php).
**If you are using an unsupported version of PHP, please upgrade as soon as possible.**
## Important
Although this library has been examined by some security experts in the PHP
community, there will always be a chance that we overlooked something. Please
ask your favorite trusted hackers to hammer it for implementation errors and
bugs before even thinking about deploying it in production.
**Do not use the master branch, use a [stable release](https://github.com/paragonie/random_compat/releases/latest).**
For the background of this library, please refer to our blog post on
[Generating Random Integers and Strings in PHP](https://paragonie.com/blog/2015/07/how-safely-generate-random-strings-and-integers-in-php).
### Usability Notice
If PHP cannot safely generate random data, this library will throw an `Exception`.
It will never fall back to insecure random data. If this keeps happening, upgrade
to a newer version of PHP immediately.
## Installing
**With [Composer](https://getcomposer.org):**
composer require paragonie/random_compat
**Signed PHP Archive:**
As of version 1.2.0, we also ship an ECDSA-signed PHP Archive with each stable
release on Github.
1. Download [the `.phar`, `.phar.pubkey`, and `.phar.pubkey.asc`](https://github.com/paragonie/random_compat/releases/latest) files.
2. (**Recommended** but not required) Verify the PGP signature of `.phar.pubkey`
(contained within the `.asc` file) using the [PGP public key for Paragon Initiative Enterprises](https://paragonie.com/static/gpg-public-key.txt).
3. Extract both `.phar` and `.phar.pubkey` files to the same directory.
4. `require_once "/path/to/random_compat.phar";`
5. When a new version is released, you only need to replace the `.phar` file;
the `.pubkey` will not change (unless our signing key is ever compromised).
**Manual Installation:**
1. Download [a stable release](https://github.com/paragonie/random_compat/releases/latest).
2. Extract the files into your project.
3. `require_once "/path/to/random_compat/lib/random.php";`
## Usage
This library exposes the [CSPRNG functions added in PHP 7](https://secure.php.net/manual/en/ref.csprng.php)
for use in PHP 5 projects. Their behavior should be identical.
### Generate a string of random bytes
```php
try {
$string = random_bytes(32);
} catch (TypeError $e) {
// Well, it's an integer, so this IS unexpected.
die("An unexpected error has occurred");
} catch (Error $e) {
// This is also unexpected because 32 is a reasonable integer.
die("An unexpected error has occurred");
} catch (Exception $e) {
// If you get this message, the CSPRNG failed hard.
die("Could not generate a random string. Is our OS secure?");
}
var_dump(bin2hex($string));
// string(64) "5787c41ae124b3b9363b7825104f8bc8cf27c4c3036573e5f0d4a91ad2eeac6f"
```
### Generate a random integer between two given integers (inclusive)
```php
try {
$int = random_int(0,255);
} catch (TypeError $e) {
// Well, it's an integer, so this IS unexpected.
die("An unexpected error has occurred");
} catch (Error $e) {
// This is also unexpected because 0 and 255 are both reasonable integers.
die("An unexpected error has occurred");
} catch (Exception $e) {
// If you get this message, the CSPRNG failed hard.
die("Could not generate a random string. Is our OS secure?");
}
var_dump($int);
// int(47)
```
### Exception handling
When handling exceptions and errors you must account for differences between
PHP 5 and PHP7.
The differences:
* Catching `Error` works, so long as it is caught before `Exception`.
* Catching `Exception` has different behavior, without previously catching `Error`.
* There is *no* portable way to catch all errors/exceptions.
#### Our recommendation
**Always** catch `Error` before `Exception`.
#### Example
```php
try {
return random_int(1, $userInput);
} catch (TypeError $e) {
// This is okay, so long as `Error` is caught before `Exception`.
throw new Exception('Please enter a number!');
} catch (Error $e) {
// This is required, if you do not need to do anything just rethrow.
throw $e;
} catch (Exception $e) {
// This is optional and maybe omitted if you do not want to handle errors
// during generation.
throw new InternalServerErrorException(
'Oops, our server is bust and cannot generate any random data.',
500,
$e
);
}
```
## Contributors
This project would not be anywhere near as excellent as it is today if it
weren't for the contributions of the following individuals:
* [@AndrewCarterUK (Andrew Carter)](https://github.com/AndrewCarterUK)
* [@asgrim (James Titcumb)](https://github.com/asgrim)
* [@bcremer (Benjamin Cremer)](https://github.com/bcremer)
* [@CodesInChaos (Christian Winnerlein)](https://github.com/CodesInChaos)
* [@chriscct7 (Chris Christoff)](https://github.com/chriscct7)
* [@cs278 (Chris Smith)](https://github.com/cs278)
* [@cweagans (Cameron Eagans)](https://github.com/cweagans)
* [@dd32 (Dion Hulse)](https://github.com/dd32)
* [@geggleto (Glenn Eggleton)](https://github.com/geggleto)
* [@ircmaxell (Anthony Ferrara)](https://github.com/ircmaxell)
* [@jedisct1 (Frank Denis)](https://github.com/jedisct1)
* [@juliangut (Julián Gutiérrez)](https://github.com/juliangut)
* [@kelunik (Niklas Keller)](https://github.com/kelunik)
* [@lt (Leigh)](https://github.com/lt)
* [@MasonM (Mason Malone)](https://github.com/MasonM)
* [@mmeyer2k (Michael M)](https://github.com/mmeyer2k)
* [@narfbg (Andrey Andreev)](https://github.com/narfbg)
* [@nicolas-grekas (Nicolas Grekas)](https://github.com/nicolas-grekas)
* [@oittaa](https://github.com/oittaa)
* [@oucil (Kevin Farley)](https://github.com/oucil)
* [@redragonx (Stephen Chavez)](https://github.com/redragonx)
* [@rchouinard (Ryan Chouinard)](https://github.com/rchouinard)
* [@SammyK (Sammy Kaye Powers)](https://github.com/SammyK)
* [@scottchiefbaker (Scott Baker)](https://github.com/scottchiefbaker)
* [@skyosev (Stoyan Kyosev)](https://github.com/skyosev)
* [@stof (Christophe Coevoet)](https://github.com/stof)
* [@teohhanhui (Teoh Han Hui)](https://github.com/teohhanhui)
* [@tom-- (Tom Worster)](https://github.com/tom--)
* [@tsyr2ko](https://github.com/tsyr2ko)
* [@trowski (Aaron Piotrowski)](https://github.com/trowski)
* [@twistor (Chris Lepannen)](https://github.com/twistor)
* [@voku (Lars Moelleken)](https://github.com/voku)
* [@xabbuh (Christian Flothmann)](https://github.com/xabbuh)