UUID Generator
What is a UUID?
A UUID (Universally Unique Identifier), also known as a GUID (Globally Unique Identifier), is a 128-bit number used to uniquely identify information in computer systems. UUIDs are standardized by the Open Software Foundation (OSF) as part of the Distributed Computing Environment (DCE).
The UUID v4 format uses random or pseudo-random numbers to generate identifiers. The probability of generating duplicate UUIDs is extremely low—approximately 1 in 2^122, making them practically unique for most applications. This makes UUIDs ideal for distributed systems where generating unique identifiers without central coordination is necessary.
A typical UUID looks like this: 550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000. The format is 8-4-4-4-12 hexadecimal digits separated by hyphens.
How to Use This Tool
- Generate Single UUID: A new UUID v4 is automatically generated when you open the page. Click "Generate New UUID" to create another one. Use the "Copy" button to quickly copy it to your clipboard.
- Bulk Generation: Enter the number of UUIDs you need (up to 100) and click "Generate X UUIDs". All UUIDs will appear in a text area where you can copy them all at once.
- Validate UUID: Paste any UUID into the validation field and click "Validate UUID" to check if it's properly formatted according to RFC 4122 standards.
- UUID Analysis: View the breakdown of the current UUID showing its components (Time Low, Time Mid, Version, Variant, and Node).
Common Use Cases
- Database Primary Keys: Use UUIDs as unique identifiers for database records across distributed systems without coordination.
- API Development: Generate unique request IDs, transaction IDs, or resource identifiers in REST APIs.
- File Naming: Create unique filenames for uploads or temporary files to avoid conflicts.
- Session IDs: Generate unique session identifiers for user authentication and tracking.
- Distributed Systems: Ensure uniqueness across multiple servers or microservices without a central authority.
- Testing & Development: Generate test data with guaranteed unique identifiers.
- Message Queues: Create unique message IDs for tracking in queue systems like RabbitMQ or Kafka.