What is a UUID?
A UUID (Universally Unique Identifier), also known as a GUID (Globally Unique Identifier), is a 128-bit number used to uniquely identify information in computer systems. The standard format is 32 hexadecimal digits grouped as xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx.
UUIDs were originally created for the Apollo Network Computing System and later standardized by the Open Software Foundation (OSF) as part of the Distributed Computing Environment (DCE).
UUID Versions
- v1: Time-based — uses timestamp and MAC address
- v3: Name-based — uses MD5 hash of namespace + name
- v4: Random — uses cryptographically secure random numbers (most common)
- v5: Name-based — uses SHA-1 hash of namespace + name
This tool generates UUID v4, which is the most widely used version in modern applications.
How to Use
- Set the number of UUIDs to generate (1 to 100)
- Choose uppercase or lowercase format
- Click “Generate” or press
Ctrl+Enter - Copy the results
Common UUID Use Cases
- Database primary keys: UUIDs avoid the need for sequential ID generation in distributed databases
- API identifiers: Expose UUIDs instead of sequential IDs to prevent enumeration attacks
- Distributed systems: Generate unique IDs without coordination between nodes
- File naming: Ensure unique filenames for uploads
- Session tokens: Create unique session identifiers