UUID/GUID Generator

How to Use This UUID/GUID Generator

1. Choose UUID version: Click "UUID v1" for timestamp-based, "UUID v4" for random (default and most common), "UUID v7" for sortable timestamp-based, or "GUID" for uppercase format. The active button is highlighted with a gradient. This tool is completely free to use.
2. View generated UUID: Your unique identifier appears immediately below the buttons in a monospace font for easy reading.
3. Refresh UUID: Click the "Refresh" button to generate a new UUID of the same type without changing your selection.
4. Copy UUID: Click the "Copy" button to copy the UUID to your clipboard for use in your application or database.
5. Generate different type: Click any version button to switch to a different UUID type and generate a new identifier.

What is a UUID/GUID and Why Use Them?

A UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) or GUID (Globally Unique Identifier) is a 128-bit number used to uniquely identify information in computer systems. UUIDs are standardized by RFC 4122 and are designed to be unique across all devices and time without requiring a central coordinating authority. They're typically displayed as 32 hexadecimal digits in five groups separated by hyphens, like: 550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000

Different UUID versions serve different purposes: UUID v1 uses the current timestamp and MAC address, making it timestamp-based but potentially revealing device information. UUID v4 is randomly generated and is the most commonly used version for general purposes due to its simplicity and privacy. UUID v7 (newest specification) combines timestamp ordering with random data, making UUIDs naturally sortable by creation time while maintaining uniqueness. GUIDs are Microsoft's implementation of UUIDs, typically displayed in uppercase, and are functionally identical to UUID v4.

What can you use UUIDs for? UUIDs are essential for database primary keys, distributed systems identification, session tokens, file naming, API request tracking, message queue identifiers, microservices communication, and any scenario requiring unique identifiers across multiple systems without coordination. They're particularly valuable in distributed databases, cloud applications, and systems where central ID generation would create bottlenecks.

Why UUIDs exist: UUIDs solve the problem of generating unique identifiers in distributed systems without requiring a central authority or coordination between systems. Unlike sequential IDs (1, 2, 3...), UUIDs can be generated independently on millions of devices simultaneously with virtually zero chance of collision (less than one in a trillion trillion). This makes them perfect for modern distributed architectures, preventing ID conflicts when merging data from different sources, and allowing offline systems to generate valid identifiers that won't clash when later synchronized.