UUID Generator

Welcome to our simple UUID Generator Tool! This tool helps you create Version 3 UUIDs with just a few clicks. If you need unique IDs for your projects, you’re in the right place. Here's how it works and a bit about UUIDs.

How the Tool Works

Namespace and Name Input:
To create a Version 3 UUID, you need to enter a "namespace" (which is another UUID) and a name (any text). If you don’t have a namespace, click the refresh button next to the input field to generate a new Version 4 UUID.
Formatting Options:
1. Uppercase: Want your UUIDs in uppercase? Toggle the "Uppercase" button, and your UUIDs will appear in all caps.
2. Include Hyphens: UUIDs usually have hyphens for better readability. You can remove them by toggling off the "Include Hyphens" button.
3. Bulk Generation: Need more than one UUID? No problem! You can choose how many UUIDs you want to generate at once.
Generate, Copy, and Download:
After setting your preferences, click the "Generate" button to create your UUIDs. Once generated, you can copy them to your clipboard with the "Copy" button or download them as a text file using the "Download" button.

What Is a Version 3 UUID?

A UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) is a 128-bit number used to uniquely identify objects or information. A Version 3 UUID is created by combining a namespace UUID with a name (any string) and hashing them together using the MD5 algorithm. The result is a unique identifier that will always be the same if you use the same namespace and name.

Version 3 vs. Version 5 UUIDs

Both Version 3 and Version 5 UUIDs are created using a namespace and name, but they differ in how they are made:

Version 3 UUIDs use the MD5 hashing algorithm.
Version 5 UUIDs use SHA-1, which is a more secure hashing algorithm.

Since SHA-1 is stronger, Version 5 UUIDs are usually recommended over Version 3. Both versions ensure that using the same namespace and name will always give you the same UUID, so they’re great for consistency.

Technical Details

The namespace used in Version 3 and Version 5 UUIDs is itself a UUID. You can use predefined namespaces like DNS or URLs, or you can create your own custom UUID to use as a namespace. The MD5 (for Version 3) and SHA-1 (for Version 5) algorithms combine the namespace and name to generate a unique 128-bit identifier.

While MD5 and SHA-1 aren’t secure for sensitive data, they work well for generating UUIDs where uniqueness is more important than security. If you do need more security, it’s better to use Version 5 UUIDs with SHA-1.

Why Use UUIDs?

UUIDs are useful when you need unique identifiers that don’t rely on a central authority, like in databases or distributed systems. They help prevent ID collisions, even if generated on different computers at different times.

Our tool makes it easy to generate and format Version 3 UUIDs according to your needs. Whether for a small project or a larger application, this tool is here to help you create unique identifiers quickly and easily.