Generate random UUID v4 (GUID) identifiers instantly.
fb87d608-d2c2-40b7-87a0-0c792ec38494UUID v4 follows a specific 36-character format (32 hex digits + 4 hyphens):
xxxxxxxx-xxxx-4xxx-yxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx
The 4 indicates version 4, and y is 8, 9, a, or b
UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) is a 128-bit identifier that is unique across all devices and time. Also known as GUID (Globally Unique Identifier), it's commonly used in databases, distributed systems, and software development.
UUID v4 is a randomly generated UUID. Unlike other versions that use timestamps or MAC addresses, v4 UUIDs are generated using random or pseudo-random numbers, making them ideal for most applications.
While not mathematically guaranteed to be unique, the probability of generating duplicate UUID v4s is astronomically low (about 1 in 5.3 × 10^36). For practical purposes, they can be considered unique.
UUID and GUID are essentially the same thing. UUID is the standard term used in most contexts, while GUID (Globally Unique Identifier) is Microsoft's implementation and terminology.
UUIDs are used as database primary keys, session identifiers, API keys, file names, distributed system identifiers, and anywhere unique identification is needed without central coordination.