ansible.builtin.random_choice lookup – return random element from list

Note

This lookup plugin is part of ansible-core and included in all Ansible installations. In most cases, you can use the short plugin name random_choice even without specifying the collections: keyword. However, we recommend you use the FQCN for easy linking to the plugin documentation and to avoid conflicting with other collections that may have the same lookup plugin name.

New in Ansible 1.1

Synopsis

  • The ‘random_choice’ feature can be used to pick something at random. While it’s not a load balancer (there are modules for those), it can somewhat be used as a poor man’s load balancer in a MacGyver like situation.

  • At a more basic level, they can be used to add chaos and excitement to otherwise predictable automation environments.

Examples

- name: Magic 8 ball for MUDs
  ansible.builtin.debug:
    msg: "{{ item }}"
  with_random_choice:
     - "go through the door"
     - "drink from the goblet"
     - "press the red button"
     - "do nothing"

Return Value

Key

Description

Return value

any

random item

Returned: success

Authors

  • Michael DeHaan

Hint

Configuration entries for each entry type have a low to high priority order. For example, a variable that is lower in the list will override a variable that is higher up.