UUID Decoder & Parser

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

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Decode a UUID

Paste any UUID — auto-decodes instantly. Supports standard, braces, and URN formats.

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Batch Decode

Paste multiple UUIDs (one per line) to decode them all at once.

How to Decode a UUID

A UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) contains structured information encoded in its 128 bits. By decoding a UUID, you can extract its version, variant, and — for certain versions — the exact timestamp of when it was created.

UUID Structure

Every UUID follows the format xxxxxxxx-xxxx-Mxxx-Nxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx where:

  • M — The version nibble (1–8), indicating how the UUID was generated
  • N — The variant nibble (8, 9, a, or b for RFC 4122/9562)

The five segments are: time_low (32 bits), time_mid (16 bits), time_hi_and_version (16 bits), clock_seq_and_variant (16 bits), and node (48 bits).

What Can You Extract?

Version Extractable Data Timestamp Epoch
v1 Timestamp, clock sequence, node ID (MAC) Gregorian (Oct 15, 1582)
v3 Version, variant only (MD5 hash) N/A
v4 Version, variant only (random) N/A
v5 Version, variant only (SHA-1 hash) N/A
v6 Timestamp, clock sequence Gregorian (Oct 15, 1582)
v7 Timestamp Unix (Jan 1, 1970)

Common Use Cases

  • Debugging: Determine when a UUID was generated by extracting its timestamp
  • Validation: Verify that a UUID conforms to the correct format and version
  • Forensics: Extract the node ID from a v1 UUID to identify the generating host
  • Migration: Identify UUID versions in a database to plan schema upgrades

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a UUID decoder do?
A UUID decoder parses a UUID string to reveal its internal structure: the version (v1–v7), variant (RFC 4122/9562), and — for timestamp-based UUIDs — the exact date and time embedded in the identifier.
Can I extract a timestamp from a UUID?
Yes, for UUID v1, v6, and v7. These versions embed a timestamp in their structure. UUID v1 and v6 use the Gregorian epoch (Oct 15, 1582) while v7 uses the Unix epoch. Our decoder extracts and displays the timestamp in both human-readable and ISO 8601 formats.
How do I validate a UUID?
Paste any UUID into the decoder input. It will instantly tell you whether it's a valid UUID, which version it is, and provide a full structural breakdown. It accepts standard format, braces format ({...}), and URN format (urn:uuid:...).
What UUID versions does the decoder support?
The decoder supports all UUID versions: v1 (timestamp), v2 (DCE security), v3 (MD5 name-based), v4 (random), v5 (SHA-1 name-based), v6 (reordered timestamp), v7 (Unix timestamp), and v8 (custom).
What is the node ID in a UUID?
The node ID is a 48-bit field in UUID v1 that traditionally contains the MAC address of the generating host. In modern implementations, a random node ID is used instead to avoid exposing hardware information.
What is the variant field in a UUID?
The variant field (2–3 bits) identifies which UUID specification the UUID conforms to. Most modern UUIDs use variant "10x" (RFC 4122/9562). Other variants exist for NCS backward compatibility and Microsoft COM/DCOM.
Is this decoder free to use?
Yes, completely free. Everything runs in your browser — no data is sent to any server. Paste as many UUIDs as you need.
What is the difference between UUID v1 and v7 timestamps?
UUID v1 uses a 60-bit timestamp counting 100-nanosecond intervals since October 15, 1582 (Gregorian epoch). UUID v7 uses a 48-bit Unix timestamp in milliseconds since January 1, 1970. Both can be decoded to reveal the creation time.

Related Tools

UUID Generator

Generate UUID v1–v7 with bulk export, format options, and sharing.

UUID v7 Generator

Time-ordered UUIDs ideal for database primary keys and event streams.

ULID Generator

Sortable, compact 26-character identifiers with embedded timestamps.

UUID API

Free REST API to generate UUIDs programmatically. No key required.

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