UUID Generator & Validator
UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) is a standard protocol for creating unique identifiers in distributed computing systems.
Meaning and History of UUID
UUID stands for Universally Unique Identifier. It is a value used to identify unique objects within a computer system, initially used to identify multiple computers on a network.
Structure and Characteristics of UUID
A UUID is a 128-bit (16-byte) number, typically represented as 32 hexadecimal digits. It is displayed as a string in the format 8-4-4-4-12, separated by hyphens. For example:
9b1deb4d-3b7d-4bad-9bdd-2b0d7b3dcb6d
Key Features of UUID
1. Extremely low probability of duplication (1 in 10 billion chance of collision among 1 trillion generated UUIDs)
2. Can be generated without a central system
3. Small size of 16 bytes for efficient storage and processing
4. Versatile usage across different systems
Where UUIDs are Used
1. Task identifiers (e.g., tracking subtasks in large operations)
2. User identifiers (user IDs)
3. Session identifiers (distinguishing client requests on web servers)
4. Object lifecycle management (e.g., identification of game items, monsters)
How to Generate UUIDs
UUIDs come in several versions, with Version 4 being the most commonly used. Version 4 UUIDs are generated from completely random numbers. UUIDs can be generated in various programming languages:
Java:
React:
Python:
More Details
- Versions 1 and 2: Time-based UUIDs (include generation time and device information)
- Versions 3 and 5: Namespace-based UUIDs (generated by hashing specific information)
- Version 4: Completely random UUIDs (most widely used)
Each version is suitable for specific purposes, and the appropriate version should be selected depending on the situation. The structure of a UUID is divided into several fields, each representing specific information. For example, the first digit of the third field indicates the version of the UUID. UUID is widely used in many systems due to its convenience and high uniqueness. However, its 16-byte size can affect database performance, and it is difficult to identify information when used as an identifier.
