Generate Universally Unique Identifiers (UUIDs) for various applications. Create both version 1 (time-based) and version 4 (random) UUIDs for use in distributed systems, databases, and more.
A Universally Unique Identifier (UUID) is a 128-bit number used to identify information in computer systems. UUIDs are standardized by the Open Software Foundation (OSF) as part of the Distributed Computing Environment (DCE). These identifiers are designed to be unique across both space and time, making them ideal for various applications in distributed systems and beyond.
This UUID generator tool allows you to create both version 1 (time-based) and version 4 (random) UUIDs. These identifiers are useful in various scenarios where unique identification is required, such as database keys, distributed systems, and network protocols.
A UUID is typically represented as 32 hexadecimal digits, displayed in five groups separated by hyphens, in the form 8-4-4-4-12 for a total of 36 characters (32 alphanumeric characters and 4 hyphens). For example:
1550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000
2The 128 bits of a UUID are divided into specific fields, each carrying different information depending on the UUID version:
Here's a diagram illustrating the UUID structure:
There are several versions of UUIDs, each with its own generation method:
This tool focuses on generating Version 1 and Version 4 UUIDs.
Version 1 UUIDs are generated using the following components:
The formula for generating a Version 1 UUID can be expressed as:
1UUID = (timestamp * 2^64) + (clock_sequence * 2^48) + node
2Version 4 UUIDs are generated using a cryptographically strong random number generator. The formula is simply:
1UUID = random_128_bit_number
2With specific bits set to indicate the version (4) and variant.
UUIDs have numerous applications across various domains of computer science and software engineering:
Database Keys: UUIDs are often used as primary keys in databases, especially in distributed systems where multiple nodes might be generating records simultaneously.
Distributed Systems: In large-scale distributed systems, UUIDs help in uniquely identifying resources, transactions, or events across multiple nodes or data centers.
Content Addressing: UUIDs can be used to create unique identifiers for content in content-addressable storage systems.
Session Management: Web applications often use UUIDs to manage user sessions, ensuring each session has a unique identifier.
IoT Device Identification: In Internet of Things (IoT) applications, UUIDs can be used to uniquely identify individual devices in a network.
While UUIDs are widely used, there are alternative approaches to generating unique identifiers:
Auto-incrementing IDs: Simple and commonly used in single-database systems, but not suitable for distributed environments.
Timestamp-based IDs: Can be useful for time-ordered data but may face collision issues in high-concurrency scenarios.
Snowflake IDs: Developed by Twitter, these IDs combine timestamp and worker number to generate unique IDs in distributed systems.
ULID (Universally Unique Lexicographically Sortable Identifier): A more recent alternative that aims to be more human-friendly and sortable than UUIDs.
The concept of UUIDs was first introduced in the Apollo Network Computing System and later standardized by the Open Software Foundation (OSF) as part of the Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) in the 1990s. The initial specification was published in 1997 as ISO/IEC 11578:1996 and later revised in 2005 as part of ISO/IEC 9834-8:2005.
Key milestones in UUID history:
Over time, UUIDs have become an essential tool in distributed systems and database design, with various implementations and adaptations across different programming languages and platforms.
Here are examples of generating UUIDs in various programming languages:
1import uuid
2
3## Generate a Version 4 (random) UUID
4random_uuid = uuid.uuid4()
5print(f"Version 4 UUID: {random_uuid}")
6
7## Generate a Version 1 (time-based) UUID
8time_based_uuid = uuid.uuid1()
9print(f"Version 1 UUID: {time_based_uuid}")
101const { v1: uuidv1, v4: uuidv4 } = require('uuid');
2
3// Generate a Version 4 (random) UUID
4const randomUuid = uuidv4();
5console.log(`Version 4 UUID: ${randomUuid}`);
6
7// Generate a Version 1 (time-based) UUID
8const timeBasedUuid = uuidv1();
9console.log(`Version 1 UUID: ${timeBasedUuid}`);
101import java.util.UUID;
2
3public class UuidGenerator {
4 public static void main(String[] args) {
5 // Generate a Version 4 (random) UUID
6 UUID randomUuid = UUID.randomUUID();
7 System.out.println("Version 4 UUID: " + randomUuid);
8
9 // Generate a Version 1 (time-based) UUID
10 UUID timeBasedUuid = UUID.fromString(new com.eaio.uuid.UUID().toString());
11 System.out.println("Version 1 UUID: " + timeBasedUuid);
12 }
13}
141require 'securerandom'
2
3## Generate a Version 4 (random) UUID
4random_uuid = SecureRandom.uuid
5puts "Version 4 UUID: #{random_uuid}"
6
7## Ruby doesn't have a built-in method for Version 1 UUIDs
8## You would need to use a gem like 'uuidtools' for that
91<?php
2// Generate a Version 4 (random) UUID
3$randomUuid = sprintf('%04x%04x-%04x-%04x-%04x-%04x%04x%04x',
4 mt_rand(0, 0xffff), mt_rand(0, 0xffff),
5 mt_rand(0, 0xffff),
6 mt_rand(0, 0x0fff) | 0x4000,
7 mt_rand(0, 0x3fff) | 0x8000,
8 mt_rand(0, 0xffff), mt_rand(0, 0xffff), mt_rand(0, 0xffff)
9);
10echo "Version 4 UUID: " . $randomUuid . "\n";
11
12// PHP doesn't have a built-in method for Version 1 UUIDs
13// You would need to use a library like 'ramsey/uuid' for that
14?>
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