Sentry Answers>JavaScript>

How do I create a GUID / UUID?

How do I create a GUID / UUID?

Matthew C.

—

The Problem

A universally unique identifier (UUID) is a 36-character-long alphanumeric string used to identify resources. A UUID is represented as hexadecimal digits in five groups separated by hyphens, for example, c75f7c66-e858-47d6-bb82-7ea5547c800c. Globally unique identifier (GUID) is another name for this type of identifier.

A computer generates a UUID by creating a very large, random number. The probability of a duplicate being created is extremely small. It can be useful to quickly assign a unique ID for a record in a database, an ID that will be unique across multiple database tables or databases.

How do you create a UUID?

The Solution

You can use the Web Crypto API that’s accessed through the global crypto property. It’s a Crypto object that has a randomUUID() method that returns a randomly generated UUID. It uses a cryptographically secure number generator.

Click to Copy
const uuid = crypto.randomUUID();
console.log(uuid); // '398de222-5bf9-4754-8e3e-011a55307014'

This method can only be used in secure contexts, which includes pages delivered over HTTPS or served locally using URLs such as http://127.0.0.1 and http://localhost.

It has good browser support. If you need it to work in browsers that don’t support it or in non-secure contexts, you can use the uuid library. You can also use this library in server-side JavaScript.

Click to Copy
import { v4 as uuidv4 } from 'uuid';
uuidv4(); // '9b1deb4d-3b7d-4bad-9bdd-2b0d7b3dcb6d'

In Node.js, you can use the randomUuid() method of the Node.js crypto module.

These methods generate a RFC 4122 UUID.

  • YoutubeHow Sentry.io saved me from disaster
  • ResourcesImprove Web Browser Performance - Find the JavaScript code causing slowdowns
  • SentryJavascript Error Monitoring & Tracing
  • ResourcesJavaScript Frontend Error Monitoring 101
  • Syntax.fmListen to the Syntax Podcast
  • Syntax.fm logo
    Listen to the Syntax Podcast

    Tasty treats for web developers brought to you by Sentry. Get tips and tricks from Wes Bos and Scott Tolinski.

    SEE EPISODES

Considered “not bad” by 4 million developers and more than 100,000 organizations worldwide, Sentry provides code-level observability to many of the world’s best-known companies like Disney, Peloton, Cloudflare, Eventbrite, Slack, Supercell, and Rockstar Games. Each month we process billions of exceptions from the most popular products on the internet.

learn more about sentryjoin our discord
© 2024 • Sentry is a registered Trademark of Functional Software, Inc.