Free UUID generator for every version
Make a UUID v4, v7, v5 or any other version in one clicktap. Also GUID, Nano ID and ULID. Need thousands? Every generator can export to CSV, JSON or SQL.
UUID generators
Each version has its own page with a generator, bulk export and a plain-English explainer.
- UUID v1Time and device. Legacy.
5c4b6a80-b0d2-11f1-8a3e-0342ac120002Open generator - UUID v3Older name-based version (MD5).
9073926b-929f-31c2-abc9-fad77ae3e8ebOpen generator - UUID v4Random. The safe default.
3f2b8c1e-9a4d-4e7b-b1c2-5d6e7f8a9b0cOpen generator - UUID v5From a name. Same input, same ID.
cfbff0d1-9375-5685-968c-48ce8b15ae17Open generator - UUID v6v1 reordered to sort by time.
1f1b0d25-c4b6-6a80-8a3e-0342ac120002Open generator - UUID v7Time-sorted. Best for DB keys.
01a16818-85c0-7b3e-9f2a-4c6d81e05a73Open generator - UUID v8Custom layout you define.
2489e9ad-2ee2-8e00-8ec9-32d5f69181c0Open generator - Nil and Max UUIDAll zeros or all ones.
00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000Open generator
Other ID generators
Not UUIDs, but sometimes the better fit.
Which UUID version should I use?
Find what you need, then use the ID next to it. Not sure? Pick UUID v4.
What is a UUID?
A UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) is a 128-bit ID used to name things in software: database rows, files, orders, users and messages. Any computer can make one on its own, without asking a central server, and it will not clash with IDs made anywhere else.
It is written as 32 letters and numbers in five groups, like this:
3f2b8c1e-9a4d-4e7b-b1c2-5d6e7f8a9b0cUUIDs are defined in RFC 9562, the 2024 standard that added versions 6, 7 and 8. A GUID is the same thing under Microsoft's name.
All UUID versions at a glance
| Version | Made from | Sorts by time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| v1 | Time + device ID | No | Older systems |
| v3 | MD5 of a name | No | Old name-based IDs |
| v4 | Random | No | Almost everything |
| v5 | SHA-1 of a name | No | Repeatable IDs |
| v6 | Time + device ID | Yes | Upgrading from v1 |
| v7 | Unix time + random | Yes | Database keys |
| v8 | Your own layout | Depends | Custom needs |
Version 2 exists but is almost never used, so we leave it out.
Why use uuidapp
Every version
v1 to v8, plus GUID, Nano ID and ULID, each on its own page.
Free
No sign-up and no account. Open a page and copy an ID.
Bulk export
Up to 10,000 at once as CSV, JSON, SQL or text.
Plain English
Every page explains what the ID is and when to use it.
Tools
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a UUID and a GUID?
None in practice. GUID is Microsoft's name for a UUID. Windows tends to show GUIDs in uppercase with braces.
Which UUID version should I use?
UUID v4 for most things. UUID v7 for database primary keys, because it sorts by time. UUID v5 when the same input must always give the same ID.
Are UUIDs really unique?
Not guaranteed, but close enough. With UUID v4 you would need about 2.7 quintillion IDs for a 50% chance of a single repeat.
Is UUID v7 better than v4?
For database keys, usually yes: new IDs land at the end of the index. But v7 reveals when it was made, so v4 is better when that should stay private.
Can I find out when a UUID was created?
Only for time-based versions: v1, v6 and v7. Paste one into the UUID decoder to see the date. v4 and v5 contain no time.
Guides
All guidesCode · 2 min read
How to get the timestamp from a UUID v7
Every UUID v7 carries the moment it was created. Learn where it hides, then read it with one line of JavaScript, Python or SQL.
Comparisons · 6 min read
UUID vs ULID vs Nano ID: which should you pick?
Length, sorting and safety compared, with a simple way to choose.
Databases · 6 min read
How to store UUIDs in PostgreSQL and MySQL
Which column type to use, and how to keep your indexes fast.
Code · 5 min read
How to generate a UUID in Python
uuid4, uuid5 and the newer uuid7, with copy-ready examples.
Basics · 6 min read
How likely is a UUID collision?
The real odds of two UUIDs matching, explained without the maths.
Basics · 5 min read
What is a GUID, and is it a UUID?
How Microsoft's GUID relates to UUID, and the byte-order catch.


