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UUID Generator

Generate RFC 9562 compliant UUIDs instantly — v4 (random), v1 (timestamp), v5 (name-based), and v7 (sortable)

Click Generate to create a UUID

Generator Options

v4: Cryptographically random — best for most use cases

UUID Decoder & Parser

Paste any UUID to decode its version, variant, timestamp, and internal structure.

Client-Side Only • No Rate Limits • No Signup Required

What is a UUID?

A UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) is a 128-bit number used to uniquely identify information in computer systems. Unlike sequential IDs, UUIDs can be generated independently without coordination, making them perfect for distributed systems, databases, and APIs.

UUIDs are standardized by RFC 4122 and are represented as 32 hexadecimal digits displayed in 5 groups separated by hyphens:

xxxxxxxx-xxxx-Mxxx-Nxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx

Where M indicates the UUID version (1-8) and N indicates the variant.

UUID Versions Explained

UUID v4 (Random)

Version 4 UUIDs are generated using random numbers. They provide the strongest uniqueness guarantees with 2^122 possible combinations — so many that the chance of collision is effectively zero for any practical application.

  • Best for: Most applications, databases, APIs, session tokens
  • Example: f47ac10b-58cc-4372-a567-0e02b2c3d479
  • Uniqueness: 2^122 possible values

UUID v1 (Timestamp-based)

Version 1 UUIDs combine a timestamp (60 bits), a clock sequence (14 bits), and a node ID (48 bits, typically MAC address). They're not completely random but provide uniqueness through time and space.

  • Best for: Ordered IDs, when you need to know when a UUID was created
  • Example: a0eebc99-9c0b-4ef8-bb6d-6bb9bd380a11
  • Note: Contains timestamp information (not anonymous)

UUID v5 (Name-based, SHA-1)

Version 5 UUIDs are generated by hashing a namespace identifier together with a name using SHA-1. They are deterministic — the same namespace and name always produce the same UUID. This makes them ideal for creating consistent identifiers from known values.

  • Best for: Consistent IDs from names (e.g., domain → UUID), deduplication, content addressing
  • Example: 2ed6657d-e927-568b-95e1-2665a8aea6a2 (URL namespace + "https://example.com")
  • Namespaces: DNS, URL, OID, X.500, or any custom UUID
  • Note: Same inputs always produce the same output — no randomness involved

UUID v7 (Unix Epoch, Sortable)

Version 7 is the newest UUID version, introduced in the RFC 9562 update. It encodes a Unix timestamp in milliseconds in the most significant 48 bits, followed by random data. This makes v7 UUIDs naturally sortable by creation time — a game-changer for database performance.

  • Best for: Database primary keys (B-tree friendly), time-ordered events, distributed systems
  • Example: 018e1a2c-4f60-7b3a-9d1e-0f2a3b4c5d6e
  • Advantage: Sortable + random — better than v1 for modern databases
  • Note: Recommended replacement for v1 in new projects

Common UUID Formats

Format Example Usage
Standard 550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000 Most common, used everywhere
Braces {550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000} Windows registry, some Microsoft tools
URN urn:uuid:550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000 RFC 4122 URN namespace
No hyphens 550e8400e29b41d4a716446655440000 Compact storage, some databases

How to Use This Tool

  1. Choose your version — Select v4 for random UUIDs (recommended) or v1 for timestamp-based UUIDs.
  2. Pick your format — Standard with hyphens is most common, but choose braces or URN format if needed.
  3. Set case preference — Lowercase is standard, but some systems prefer uppercase.
  4. Set quantity — Need just one? Leave it at 1. Need thousands? Adjust the slider up to 10,000.
  5. Generate — Click the button or use the refresh icon for instant results.
  6. Copy or export — Copy individual UUIDs or export bulk results as CSV, JSON, or TXT.

UUID Decoder & Parser

Our UUID decoder lets you paste any UUID and instantly see its internal structure. It decodes:

  • Version — Which UUID version (v1 through v8) was used to generate it
  • Variant — The variant field (RFC 4122, Microsoft, NCS, or reserved)
  • Timestamp — For v1, v6, and v7 UUIDs, the exact date and time embedded in the UUID
  • Clock sequence — The clock sequence counter (v1)
  • Node ID — The MAC address or random node identifier (v1)
  • Alternative formats — Integer, URN, braces, and no-dashes representations

The visual breakdown highlights each section of the UUID with color-coded labels so you can see exactly which bits serve which purpose. This is useful for debugging, verifying UUID version compliance, and understanding the data embedded in timestamp-based UUIDs.

Common Use Cases

  • Database primary keys — Distributed systems can generate IDs without conflicts
  • API resource identifiers — REST APIs use UUIDs to identify resources
  • Session tokens — Secure, unguessable tokens for user sessions
  • File names — Unique names for uploaded files to prevent collisions
  • Test data — Generate realistic IDs for development and testing
  • Transaction IDs — Unique identifiers for financial transactions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a UUID?
UUID stands for Universally Unique Identifier. It's a 128-bit number used to identify information in computer systems. UUIDs are designed to be unique across both space and time, making them ideal for distributed systems.
What's the difference between UUID v1, v4, v5, and v7?
UUID v4 is randomly generated (best for most use cases). UUID v1 uses a timestamp + node ID. UUID v5 is deterministic — it hashes a namespace and name with SHA-1, so the same inputs always produce the same UUID. UUID v7 is the newest version: it embeds a Unix timestamp for natural sort order, making it ideal for database primary keys.
Are these UUIDs truly unique?
UUID v4 has approximately 2^122 possible values, making the chance of collision astronomically small. For practical purposes, you can treat them as unique. UUID v1 includes timestamp and node information, further reducing collision chances.
Is this tool free to use?
Yes, completely free. No signup required, no rate limits, no data stored. Generate as many UUIDs as you need.
Can I generate UUIDs in bulk?
Absolutely. You can generate up to 10,000 UUIDs at once. Use the quantity slider or enter a specific number, then export the results as CSV, JSON, or plain text.
When should I use UUID v5?
Use UUID v5 when you need deterministic IDs — for example, generating a consistent UUID from a domain name, URL, or user email. The same namespace + name will always produce the same UUID, which is useful for deduplication and content addressing.
When should I use UUID v7?
Use UUID v7 when you need sortable unique identifiers, especially for database primary keys. Unlike v4, v7 UUIDs are time-ordered, which means they don't cause B-tree fragmentation and result in better insert performance. UUID v7 is the recommended replacement for v1 in modern systems.
How do I decode or parse a UUID?
Use our UUID Decoder & Parser below the generator. Paste any UUID and it will show the version, variant, structural breakdown with color-coded segments, and — for timestamp-based UUIDs (v1, v6, v7) — the exact date and time embedded in the UUID, plus the node ID and clock sequence.
Can I extract the timestamp from a UUID?
Yes, for UUID v1, v6, and v7. These versions embed a timestamp in their structure. Our decoder extracts and displays the date in both human-readable and ISO 8601 formats. UUID v4 is purely random and does not contain a timestamp.
How do I validate a UUID?
The UUID Decoder doubles as a validator. Paste any UUID and it will tell you whether it's valid, which version it is, and provide a full structural breakdown. It accepts standard format, braces format, and URN format.