$var ($is_true) ? 'cool' : 'not cool';

But if you need to pass only one value to a variable , it should be fine to use these short notations. If I have 10 statements like this I can choose from 10 rows I need to scroll or 40

You are right. if we use the single row without using braces like if ($use_numeric) $numbers = range(48, 57);
is very short. but the beginners can’t able to understood it at first look.

if ($val) 
{
    echo 'Hello!';
}

This is something I don’t like.
Right my IF statement with a FOR loop on a single row without using braces is very short, but I can read this very well:
if ($use_numeric) $numbers = range(48, 57);

btw. You see that Wordpress gives a new format to posted code as well.

I have one concern with it (sorry, I’m going to be a little bit blunt), but the syntax you use is atrocious and disgusting:

if ($use_numeric) for ($nu = 48; $nu < = 57; $nu++) $numbers[] = $nu;

This is acceptable though:

if ($use_numeric) $numbers = range(48, 57);

but this is better:

if ($use_numeric)
$numbers = range(48, 57);

Code readability is very important...

Normally I use braces in my code, but for tutorials I try to keep the code as short as possible …

I don’t understand your second comment, do you suggest to use an array for the options? Why do you suggest a constant variable?
Try the Google gadget to see why I used multiple filters/switches as arguments.

if ($use_caps) for ($ca = 65; $ca <= 90; $ca++) $caps[] = $ca; // create A-Z

Also, the way of specifying options can get awkward. A bit mask is more elegant here:

function create_password($options) {
  if ($options & PASSWORD_USE_SPECIALS) {
    /* ... */
  }
}

And as said before, don't reinvent the wheel.

First of all thank for posting your code example.

Why not using PEAR?

Sure your can download all classes from the pear site.
I think the best is the PEAR distribution system, why should I use PEAR? Because there are so many old projects? yes there are some good projects but how do I know as which are good? If I need to use some “library” I go for the Zend Framework.

About your function, I used this kind of code very often (short and simple), but you see that my function has much more control about which character I can use.

Don’t forget this tutorial is supposed to show things work

For a “special symbols in 25% of the password” thing you would have to have a separate variable for those special symbols and then in the loop something like this:

if (mt_rand(0,3)) {
$string .= $alphabet[mt_rand(0, $alphabetLenght)];
} else {
$string .= $specialSymbols[mt_rand(0, strlen($specialSymbols))];
}

That won’t guarantee you perfect 25% every time, but statistically it should oscillate around that number (gotta love math!) and it’s much more elegant solution I think.