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UUID Generator

Use this UUID generator to create unique identifiers quickly in multiple available versions.

Version

Generate UUID

Validate UUID

What is UUID?

UUID (universally unique identifier) is a standardized 128-bit format unique identifier generated using random numbers to uniquely identify information in computer systems. A UUID is essentially a string of characters that uniquely identifies an object.

UUIDs consist of 32 hexadecimal digits organized in a specific pattern of 8-4-4-4-12. Their design reduces the chance of duplicates with various methods, such as using timestamps, applying hash functions, or generating random numbers — based on your chosen version.

FAQ

The choice depends on your requirements for generating UUIDs:

Version 1 is useful when you need a timestamp in the UUID and have a network card (for a MAC address).

Version 3 is useful when creating consistent UUIDs for the same input name and namespace.

Version 4 UUIDs are widely used for their simplicity and do not require any state to be stored.

If you're unsure which of the versions you should use, choose version 4. Version 4 UUID is the most used version, common and random enough to almost completely avoid duplicates. Also, version 4 UUIDs are standard in applications requiring random unique identifiers working across different systems.
Version 4 UUIDs are widely used as they're simple to generate, rely only on random numbers, and don't require external information like hardware addresses or predetermined namespaces.

This makes version 4 easy to implement, ensures privacy, and minimizes the risk of duplicate identifiers. Version 4’s versatility and independence from system-specific details have made it the default choice to generate unique identifiers in various applications.
GUID and UUID refer to the same 128-bit number used to identify information uniquely, but the terms are used in different contexts.

The term GUID is primarily used within Microsoft technologies, reflecting its origins in Microsoft’s Component Object Model and Windows.

UUID is a more universally accepted term, adhering to the standards set in RFC 4122.

GUID and UUID are interchangeable in terms of their technical specifications and use cases.
The design of a random UUID means the probability of generating a duplicate of a universally unique identifier is extremely low. The UUIDs from this UUID generator are created using a secure random numbers generator.

You can check the uniqueness of the UUID in the built-in validator. Please note that while this tool generates UUIDs, their uniqueness and reliability are not guaranteed, and users should proceed at their own risk.
UUIDs are particularly useful in distributed systems, where a globally unique identifier is needed to identify objects across different nodes and systems. Their ability to generate millions of unique identifiers without collisions makes them ideal for such applications.

Some other popular use cases are:
• Identifying users, applications, and other objects in computer systems.
• Creating unique identifiers for database records.
• Generating unique keys for encryption and decryption.
• Identifying devices and sensors in IoT systems.
• Creating unique identifiers for digital assets, such as images and videos.
When using UUIDs, it’s important to follow best practices to ensure their uniqueness and security.

Here are some best practices to keep in mind:
• Use a secure random number generator to generate random UUIDs.
• Use a hash function that is resistant to collisions, such as SHA-256.
• Use a namespace identifier that is unique to your organization or application. This ensures that the UUIDs generated using hashing are unique within your organization or application’s context.
• Avoid using UUIDs as passwords or encryption keys.
• Use UUIDs in conjunction with other security measures, such as authentication and authorization.
In a Java implementation, you can generate a version 4 UUID using the UUID.randomUUID() method, which creates a randomly generated UUID based on random numbers.