How can the use of array_rand() function in PHP help in selecting random elements from an array for game development?

When developing games, it is often necessary to select random elements from an array to create variety and unpredictability. The array_rand() function in PHP can be used to efficiently select random elements from an array. By using array_rand(), you can easily pick random items from an array without having to manually shuffle the array or write complex logic to select random elements.

// Example of using array_rand() function to select random elements from an array for game development

$items = array("Sword", "Shield", "Potion", "Gold", "Armor");

$randomItem = $items[array_rand($items)];

echo "Random item selected: " . $randomItem;