🧬 Comprehensive UUID Generator – Create V1, V3, V4 & V5 UUIDs Instantly
🏁 1. Introduction
A UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) is a 128-bit number used to uniquely identify information in computer systems. Solvezi’s UUID Generator allows developers, system architects, and tech enthusiasts to generate V1, V3, V4, and V5 UUIDs instantly, either individually or in bulk.
Whether you need IDs for databases, API keys, distributed systems, or file tracking, our tool provides deterministic and random UUIDs in multiple formats: standard, compact, and uppercase. You can also copy single or batch UUIDs directly to your clipboard for quick use.
Try it here 👉 UUID Generator
🧠 2. What is a UUID?
A UUID is a 36-character string in the format xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx (hexadecimal). It ensures uniqueness across devices, networks, and systems without requiring a central authority. UUIDs are widely used in databases, web applications, APIs, IoT devices, and software systems.
Key Benefits:
- Globally unique identifiers without collisions.
- Supports distributed systems where centralized ID generation isn’t feasible.
- Allows deterministic UUIDs for reproducibility (V3 and V5).
- Ensures privacy-safe, random identifiers (V4).
🧩 3. UUID Versions Explained
Understanding different UUID versions helps you select the most appropriate one for your application.
V1 – Time-Based UUID
- Generation: Combines timestamp + MAC address + clock sequence.
- Deterministic: No, generated in real-time.
- Pros: Chronologically sortable, globally unique.
- Cons: May expose MAC address, slightly predictable.
- Example:
f81d4fae-7dec-11d0-a765-00a0c91e6bf6 - Use Cases: Event logs, versioned records, database keys.
V2 – DCE Security UUID
- Generation: Combines POSIX UID/GID + timestamp.
- Deterministic: No, depends on user ID and time.
- Pros: Embeds user or group info.
- Cons: Rarely used in modern apps.
- Example:
e902893a-9d22-11e1-9b23-000c29e0b9f0 - Use Cases: Legacy DCE systems, security-sensitive applications.
V3 – Name-Based UUID (MD5)
- Generation: Hashes namespace + name using MD5.
- Deterministic: Yes, same input always produces same UUID.
- Pros: Reproducible, predictable UUIDs.
- Cons: MD5 is not cryptographically secure.
- Example:
3d813cbb-47fb-32ba-91df-831e1593ac29 - Use Cases: File IDs, URL identifiers, static resources.
V4 – Random UUID
- Generation: Fully random 122-bit value.
- Deterministic: No, generated randomly.
- Pros: Privacy-safe, collision-resistant, most common.
- Cons: Cannot sort chronologically.
- Example:
550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000 - Use Cases: API keys, database keys, session IDs, tokens.
V5 – Name-Based UUID (SHA1)
- Generation: Hashes namespace + name using SHA1.
- Deterministic: Yes, same input always produces same UUID.
- Pros: More secure than V3, reproducible.
- Cons: Slightly longer computation.
- Example:
21f7f8de-8051-5b89-8680-0195ef798b6a - Use Cases: File versioning, namespace-based resources, reproducible IDs.
Summary Table
| Version | Type | Generation Method | Deterministic? | Pros | Cons | Use Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V1 | Time-Based | Timestamp + Node | No | Chronological, unique | May expose MAC | Event logs, DB keys |
| V2 | DCE Security | UID/GID + Timestamp | No | Embeds user info | Rarely used | Legacy DCE apps |
| V3 | Name-Based (MD5) | MD5(namespace + name) | Yes | Reproducible | MD5 not secure | URLs, files, static IDs |
| V4 | Random | Random bits | No | Privacy-safe, common | Not sortable | API keys, session IDs |
| V5 | Name-Based (SHA1) | SHA1(namespace + name) | Yes | Secure, reproducible | Slightly slower | File versioning, namespaces |
💡 4. Examples of UUID Generation
V1 Example:
f81d4fae-7dec-11d0-a765-00a0c91e6bf6
V3 Example (Name-Based):
namespace: example.com
name: myfile.txt
result: 3d813cbb-47fb-32ba-91df-831e1593ac29
V4 Example (Random):
550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000
V5 Example (SHA1 Name-Based):
namespace: example.com
name: myfile.txt
result: 21f7f8de-8051-5b89-8680-0195ef798b6a
🏗️ 5. Key Features of Solvezi’s UUID Generator
- Generate single or batch UUIDs instantly.
- Supports V1, V3, V4, V5 UUIDs.
- Format options: standard, compact, uppercase.
- Copy to clipboard for quick usage.
- Deterministic UUIDs (V3/V5) for reproducible results.
- Fully browser-based, works offline.
- Mobile and desktop-friendly interface.
🌍 6. Real-World Use Cases
| Scenario | UUID Version | Description |
|---|---|---|
| API Development | V4 | Generate unique API keys for clients. |
| Distributed Databases | V1 | Chronologically sortable keys for event logs. |
| File Versioning | V3 / V5 | Deterministic IDs for files and resources. |
| Session Management | V4 | Random session identifiers to ensure security. |
| IoT Devices | V1 | Unique device identifiers across networks. |
📈 7. Pros and Cons of Each Version
V1: Chronological, globally unique; may expose MAC.
V2: Embeds user info; rarely used.
V3: Deterministic, reproducible; MD5 not secure.
V4: Random, privacy-safe; not sortable.
V5: Deterministic, SHA1-secure; slightly slower.
💬 8. FAQs
Q1. Which UUID version should I use?
- V1 for chronological events.
- V3/V5 for deterministic IDs.
- V4 for general-purpose random IDs.
Q2. Can I generate UUIDs in bulk?
Yes, batch generation is supported.
Q3. Does this generator work offline?
Yes, all UUIDs are generated locally in your browser.
Q4. Can I use it on mobile?
Yes, fully responsive for mobile and tablet devices.
Q5. Are generated UUIDs safe for production use?
Absolutely, V4 UUIDs are cryptographically secure and V3/V5 are deterministic for reproducible needs.
Tags: UUID generator, V1 UUID, V2 UUID, V3 UUID, V4 UUID, V5 UUID, random UUID, name-based UUID, time-based UUID, batch UUID generator, developer tools, unique identifiers, Solvezi