orderby rand param does not work with either WP_User_Query or get_users

[kjmeath]

Using WordPress 3.2.1

$contributors = get_users(array('role' => 'contributor', 'orderby' => 'rand', 'number' => 3));

$wp_user_search = new WP_User_Query(array('role' => 'contributor', 'orderby' => 'rand', 'number' => 3));
$contributors = $wp_user_search->get_results();	

[kurtpayne]

The WP_User_Query::prepare_query() method limits the fields you can order by. You can, however, edit the SQL ORDER BY clause directly by hooking pre_user_query action.

<?php

// Create a function to override the ORDER BY clause
$randomize_func = create_function( '&$query', '$query->query_orderby = "ORDER BY RAND()";' );

// Hook pre_user_query
add_action( 'pre_user_query', $randomize_func );

// Make the call
$contributors = get_users( array( 'role' => 'subscriber', 'orderby' => 'rand', 'number' => 3 ) );

// Remove the hook
remove_action( 'pre_user_query', $randomize_func );

[c3mdigital]

order by clause is filterable. Closing as wontfix

[markoheijnen]

This can been seen as a feature request for the API. So closing because we have a filter for it doesn't have to fit.