UUID Generator
Generate random UUIDs (Universally Unique Identifiers) instantly
Recently Generated UUIDs
What is a UUID?
A UUID (Universally Unique Identifier), also known as GUID (Globally Unique Identifier), is a 128-bit identifier that is guaranteed to be unique across all devices and time. UUIDs are standardized by the Open Software Foundation (OSF) as part of the Distributed Computing Environment (DCE).
UUID Format
A UUID is represented as a 32-character hexadecimal string, divided into five groups separated by hyphens, following the pattern 8-4-4-4-12:
xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx
For example: f47ac10b-58cc-4372-a567-0e02b2c3d479
UUID Versions
Different versions of UUIDs are defined by the specification:
- Version 1: Time-based UUID derived from the host MAC address and current timestamp.
- Version 4: Random UUID generated using random or pseudo-random numbers.
Version 4 is the most commonly used as it doesn't expose any system-specific information.
Common Use Cases for UUIDs
UUIDs are widely used in software development for various purposes:
Database Keys
UUIDs are often used as primary keys in databases, especially in distributed systems where multiple servers might be generating records simultaneously, making traditional auto-incrementing IDs problematic.
Distributed Systems
In distributed systems, UUIDs allow different components to generate unique identifiers without central coordination, preventing conflicts.
Session IDs
UUIDs are commonly used for session identification in web applications, providing a high level of uniqueness and security.
File Names
UUIDs can be used to generate unique file names for uploaded content, preventing naming conflicts in storage systems.
