Random Password Generator - Using Perl

© copyright 01.Jan.2002 by Paul Bradley filed under Perl

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While working on a recent project, I needed some code to generate a random password for new users who registered with the system. The subroutine below demonstrates how you can generate random passwords of different lengths using Perl.

Random Password Generator - Perl Code

sub randomPassword {
my $password;
my $_rand;

my $password_length = $_[0];
    if (!$password_length) {
        $password_length = 10;
    }

my @chars = split(" ",
    "a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o
    p q r s t u v w x y z - _ % # |
    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9");

srand;

for (my $i=0; $i <= $password_length ;$i++) {
    $_rand = int(rand 41);
    $password .= $chars[$_rand];
}
return $password;
}

Copy and paste the above subroutine into your Perl script. If you leave the password length parameter out when calling the routine, the code will create a password which is 10 characters long.

Password Example Usage:

create a password which is 6 characters long

print a password which is 12 characters long

About the Author
Paul Bradley is a VB.NET software developer living and working in Cumbria. He provides PHP & MySQL bespoke development services via his software development company, Carlisle Software Limited.
He has over 20 years programming experience.

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