What Is the UUID Generator?

The online UUID generator is a web tool designed to assist in generating a universally unique identifier for different computer systems. Whether you need to create bulk random UUIDs or validate them, this page is equipped to handle your requests.

Under the hood, this page uses the UUID class in the uuid package to generate RFC-compliant UUIDs through a static method. Each generated UUID comprises a series of hex digits, aiming to ensure a unique identifier every time.

None of the generated UUIDs are saved or stored anywhere. The UUIDs generated by this site are provided "AS IS," without warranty of any kind, not even the warranty that the generated UUIDs are actually unique.

How to Use the UUID Generator

Here is how to generate UUIDs in a few simple steps:

  1. Navigate to the "UUID Generator" tab.
  2. Hit the Generate UUID button to create a random UUID.
  3. Click on the "Copy" button to transfer the generated UUID to your clipboard.
  4. Paste it wherever you need to utilize the UUID, such as when creating primary keys in a database.

For bulk generation of UUIDs, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the "UUID Bulk Generator" tab.
  2. Enter the count of UUIDs you wish to generate.
  3. Press the Generate UUID button to proceed.
  4. Download or copy the generated UUIDs.

To validate a UUID, adhere to the steps below:

  1. Access the "UUID validator" tab.
  2. Input the UUID.
  3. Press the Validate UUID button to verify its authenticity.
  4. Review the validation result.

What Is UUID?

A UUID (Universally Unique Identifier), also known by the term GUID (Globally Unique Identifier), is a 128-bit value used to ensure uniqueness across different computer systems. It consists of 128 binary digits (bits). This string of bits is most commonly used in software development and is designed to be unique both now and in the future. The reason UUIDs are considered to be unique indefinitely is because they either use timestamps or a random string of numbers that will never be reproduced in exactly the same way ever again.

What Does UUID Stand For?

UUID stands for Universally Unique Identifier. It is a 128-bit value used in software development to identify unique values.

There are four different types of UUID's, including:

  • Version 1 UUID: It uses a timestamp and the MAC address of the computer it was created from to generate a UUID
  • Version 3 UUID: It uses an MD5 (Message Digest Algorithm 5) hash of namespace and name to generate a UUID
  • Version 4 UUID: It uses random numbers to generate a unique UUID
  • Version 5 UUID: It uses an SHA-1(Secure Hash Algorithm 1) hash of a namespace and name to generate a UUID

Version 4 is often considered the most common way to generate a UUID.

Version 4 UUID

Compared to other UUID versions, Version 4 UUIDs are used more by software developers, usually when debugging. It is generated using random numbers without any specific logic, which is why Version 4 UUIDs are not typically used if you need to generate a unique ID that is time-sensitive.

Since Version 4 UUIDs use a random set of generated numbers, duplication is possible, but highly unlikely. This is because you would need to generate trillions of Version 4 UUIDs before you get the same random set of bits.

With Version 4 UUIDs, you can:

  • Generate simpler UUIDs that don't give away information about the source (like Version 1 UUIDs do when they take the MAC address).
  • Quickly spot matches when reviewing longer lists of information matched with UUIDs.