diff --git a/data/apps/helpers.d/password b/data/apps/helpers.d/password
deleted file mode 100644
index b9a790885..000000000
--- a/data/apps/helpers.d/password
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-
-# Generate a random password
-#
-# usage: ynh_password
-ynh_password() {
-  echo $(dd if=/dev/urandom bs=1 count=200 2> /dev/null | tr -c -d '[A-Za-z0-9]' | sed -n 's/\(.\{24\}\).*/\1/p')
-}
diff --git a/data/apps/helpers.d/string b/data/apps/helpers.d/string
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a2bf0d463
--- /dev/null
+++ b/data/apps/helpers.d/string
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# Generate a random string
+#
+# example: pwd=$(ynh_string_random 8)
+#
+# usage: ynh_string_random [length]
+# | arg: length - the string length to generate (default: 24)
+ynh_string_random() {
+    dd if=/dev/urandom bs=1 count=200 2> /dev/null \
+      | tr -c -d '[A-Za-z0-9]' \
+      | sed -n 's/\(.\{'"${1:-24}"'\}\).*/\1/p'
+}