KSUID Generator: Create Sortable Unique Identifiers Online

What is a KSUID Generator and Why Use It?

A KSUID generator creates K-Sortable Unique Identifiers that combine time-based sorting with cryptographic uniqueness. Unlike traditional UUIDs, KSUIDs are chronologically sortable and perfect for distributed systems requiring unique identifier generation without coordination between servers.

Key benefits of using a KSUID generator:

• Generate time-sortable unique IDs instantly
• No server coordination required for uniqueness
• Compact 27-character URL-safe format
• Built-in timestamp for chronological ordering
• Ideal for database keys and distributed applications

Understanding KSUID Structure and Format

A KSUID (K-Sortable Unique Identifier) is a 20-byte sortable identifier that consists of:

1. 32-bit timestamp (4 bytes) - Time-based component for sorting
2. 16 bytes of randomness - Cryptographically secure random data

When represented as a string, a KSUID is encoded in base62 and is exactly 27 characters long.

Detailed KSUID Component Breakdown

The KSUID structure consists of three key components:

1. Timestamp Component (4 bytes): Represents seconds since the KSUID epoch (2014-05-13T16:53:20Z), enabling chronological sorting of generated IDs.

2. Random Component (16 bytes): A cryptographically secure random number ensuring uniqueness even when multiple KSUIDs are generated simultaneously.

3. Base62 Encoding: The combined 20 bytes are encoded using base62 (A-Z, a-z, 0-9) to produce the final 27-character URL-safe string.

KSUID Formula

A KSUID can be represented mathematically as:

$KSUID = Base62(T || R)$

Where:

• $T$ is the 32-bit timestamp
• $R$ is the 128-bit random component
• $||$ denotes concatenation

The timestamp $T$ is calculated as:

T = \text{floor}(\text{current_time} - \text{KSUID_epoch})

Where KSUID_epoch is 1400000000 (2014-05-13T16:53:20Z).

KSUID Structure Diagram

Top Use Cases for KSUID Generation

KSUIDs are ideal for modern applications requiring sortable unique identifiers. Here are the most common use cases:

1. Distributed System Identifiers

Generate unique IDs across multiple servers without coordination or central authority. Perfect for microservices architectures.

2. Time-Sortable Database Keys

Use KSUIDs as primary keys in databases where chronological ordering matters, eliminating the need for separate timestamp columns.

3. URL-Safe Resource Identifiers

Create short, unique, URL-safe identifiers for web applications, APIs, and public resources without special encoding.

4. Log Correlation and Tracing

Correlate log entries across different services in distributed systems while maintaining chronological order.

5. Event Sourcing and Audit Trails

Track events chronologically with built-in timestamps for compliance and debugging purposes.

Why Choose KSUIDs Over UUIDs and Other Identifiers?

KSUIDs provide significant advantages over traditional identifier systems:

✅ Chronological Sortability

Unlike UUIDs, KSUIDs can be sorted chronologically, making them ideal for database indexing and log analysis.

✅ Zero Coordination Required

Generate unique identifiers independently across multiple servers without risking collisions or requiring central coordination.

✅ Compact 27-Character Format

More compact than UUIDs when represented as strings, saving storage space and improving readability.

✅ Embedded Timestamp

Built-in timestamp enables time-based sorting and filtering without separate timestamp fields.

✅ URL-Safe Encoding

Base62 encoding makes KSUIDs safe for URLs without additional encoding requirements.

✅ Extremely Low Collision Probability

The 16-byte random component makes collisions virtually impossible, even at high generation rates.

How to Use the KSUID Generator Tool

Follow these simple steps to generate KSUIDs online:

Step 1: Configure Generation Options

• Set custom parameters if needed (timestamp, quantity)
• Choose between single or batch generation

Step 2: Generate Your KSUID

• Click the "Generate KSUID" button to create new identifiers
• Generated KSUIDs appear instantly in the output field

Step 3: Copy and Use

• Use the "Copy" button to copy KSUIDs to your clipboard
• Download multiple KSUIDs using the "Export" feature

Step 4: Implement in Your Application

• Each KSUID is unique and ready to use
• Generate new KSUIDs for each unique identifier requirement

Pro Tip: Generate KSUIDs in batches when setting up new systems or migrating existing data.

KSUID Implementation Examples by Programming Language

Learn how to generate KSUIDs programmatically in your preferred programming language:

1## Python
2import ksuid
3
4new_id = ksuid.ksuid()
5print(f"Generated KSUID: {new_id}")
6

1// JavaScript
2const { ksuid } = require('ksuid')
3
4const newId = ksuid()
5console.log(`Generated KSUID: ${newId}`)
6

1// Java
2import com.github.ksuid.KsuidGenerator;
3
4public class KsuidExample {
5    public static void main(String[] args) {
6        String newId = KsuidGenerator.generate();
7        System.out.println("Generated KSUID: " + newId);
8    }
9}
10

1// C++
2#include <iostream>
3#include <ksuid/ksuid.hpp>
4
5int main() {
6    ksuid::Ksuid newId = ksuid::Ksuid::generate();
7    std::cout << "Generated KSUID: " << newId.string() << std::endl;
8    return 0;
9}
10

1## Ruby
2require 'ksuid'
3
4new_id = KSUID.new
5puts "Generated KSUID: #{new_id}"
6

1// PHP
2<?php
3require_once 'vendor/autoload.php';
4
5use Tuupola\KsuidFactory;
6
7$factory = new KsuidFactory();
8$newId = $factory->create();
9echo "Generated KSUID: " . $newId . "\n";
10?>
11

1// Go
2package main
3
4import (
5    "fmt"
6    "github.com/segmentio/ksuid"
7)
8
9func main() {
10    newId := ksuid.New()
11    fmt.Printf("Generated KSUID: %s\n", newId.String())
12}
13

1// Swift
2import KSUID
3
4let newId = KSUID()
5print("Generated KSUID: \(newId)")
6

Frequently Asked Questions About KSUID Generation

What is the difference between KSUID and UUID?

KSUIDs are chronologically sortable while UUIDs are not. KSUIDs also have embedded timestamps and are more compact at 27 characters vs UUID's 36 characters.

How unique are KSUIDs?

KSUIDs have extremely low collision probability due to their 16-byte random component. The chance of collision is virtually zero even with billions of IDs generated.

Can KSUIDs be used as database primary keys?

Yes, KSUIDs are excellent for database primary keys, especially in distributed systems where auto-incrementing integers aren't suitable.

What is the KSUID epoch?

The KSUID epoch starts at 2014-05-13T16:53:20Z (timestamp 1400000000), different from the Unix epoch.

Are KSUIDs URL-safe?

Yes, KSUIDs use base62 encoding (A-Z, a-z, 0-9) making them completely URL-safe without additional encoding.

How fast can KSUIDs be generated?

KSUIDs can be generated very quickly since they don't require coordination between systems or database lookups.

Can I extract the timestamp from a KSUID?

Yes, you can extract the embedded timestamp from any KSUID to determine when it was generated.

What programming languages support KSUID generation?

KSUIDs are supported in most popular programming languages including Python, JavaScript, Java, Go, PHP, Ruby, and more.

Start Generating KSUIDs Today

Ready to implement sortable unique identifiers in your application? Use our free KSUID generator tool to create time-ordered, globally unique identifiers for your distributed systems, databases, and applications.

Generate your first KSUID now and experience the benefits of chronologically sortable unique identifiers!

References

1. Segment's KSUID GitHub Repository: https://github.com/segmentio/ksuid
2. "Generating good unique identifiers" by Peter Bourgon: https://peter.bourgon.org/blog/2019/05/20/generating-good-unique-ids.html
3. KSUID Specification: https://github.com/segmentio/ksuid/blob/master/README.md