如何回显PHP / MySQL中的随机行？

Question

I've been going through a number of guides on how to echo data from a random row in a MySQL database and I keep arriving at a blank page.

Here is what I believe to be the best version of code I have so far:

<?php $username="root";$password="notarealpassword";$database="offenders";

mysql_connect(localhost,$username,$password);

@mysql_select_db($database) or die( "Unable to select database");


$sSQLQuery = "SELECT last_name AND first_name FROM offenders ORDER BY RAND() LIMIT 1";  
$aResult = mysql_query($sSQLQuery); 
WHILE ($aRow = mysql_fetch_array($aResult)):
echo $aRow['last_name'] . " " . $row['first_name'];
ENDWHILE; 

?>

I have tested and made sure the connection to the database is working. Why am I arriving at a blank page and how can I fix it?

Thanks so much!

Answer 1

1. Don't call mysql_close before making queries;
2. mysql functions are deprecated, use mysqli instead;
3. I would use curly brackets instead of WHILE - ENDWHILE;

4. Column selected must be comma separated (not AND separated):

   $sSQLQuery = "
       SELECT 
         last_name, <- here
         first_name 
       FROM offenders 
       ORDER BY RAND() LIMIT 1";