MySQL/Php: nonrepeating random selection with unique ID selectors - php

Question

I'm new to using php and mysqp.
Using the code below, I am calling and echoing four names from a mysql database (in a 'names' column) without repeat.
However, what I'd like to do is assign a unique CSS id selector to each name.
The intent is to have four individually styled boxes around the page, each with a different name chosen randomly upon load.
What would be the best code to do this?
(Fyi I am using an xxamp installation.)
Thanks!
<?php
$sandbox = mysql_connect("localhost", "root", "password")
or die(mysql_error());
mysql_select_db("sandbox", $sandbox);
$sql = "SELECT * FROM names ORDER BY RAND() LIMIT 4";
$result = mysql_query($sql, $sandbox);
while ($row = mysql_fetch_array ($result)) {
$name1 = $row['Name'];
echo $name1 . '<br>' ;
}

Answer 1

Would this work for you:
<?php
$sandbox = mysql_connect("localhost", "root", "password")
or die(mysql_error());
mysql_select_db("sandbox", $sandbox);
$sql = "SELECT * FROM names ORDER BY RAND() GROUP BY Name LIMIT 4";
$result = mysql_query($sql, $sandbox);
$i = 0;
while ($row = mysql_fetch_array ($result)) {
echo '<div id=box"'.$i++.'">'.$row['Name'].'</div>';
}
This gives you an unique CSS selector using the primary key in your table?

Answer 2

This should work.
$sandbox = mysql_connect("localhost", "root", "password")
or die(mysql_error());
mysql_select_db("sandbox", $sandbox);
$sql = "SELECT * FROM names ORDER BY RAND() LIMIT 4";
$result = mysql_query($sql, $sandbox);
$i = 0;
while ($row = mysql_fetch_array ($result)) {
$id = $row['ID'];
echo '<div id=box"'.$i++.'">your content</div>';
}