UUID Generator

Code guide

Generate UUIDs (GUIDs) in C#

Generate GUIDs in C# with Guid.NewGuid, parse and validate them, and create UUID v7 on .NET 9 and later.

By UUID GeneratorUpdated Reviewed for accuracy

In .NET, UUIDs are represented by the Guid type. Guid.NewGuid() covers version 4, and .NET 9 added native UUID v7 generation.

Key takeaways

  • Guid.NewGuid() creates a version 4 identifier.
  • Guid.TryParse validates input without throwing.
  • .NET 9 adds Guid.CreateVersion7() for time-ordered GUIDs.

Generate and validate a GUID

NewGuid returns a random version 4 value. Use TryParse for safe validation of user input.

Guid id = Guid.NewGuid();          // version 4
string text = id.ToString();

if (Guid.TryParse(input, out Guid parsed))
{
    // parsed now holds a valid GUID
}

UUID v7 on modern .NET

.NET 9 introduced native time-ordered GUIDs, which index better in databases than random values.

// .NET 9 and later
Guid v7 = Guid.CreateVersion7();

FAQ

Generate UUIDs (GUIDs) in C# questions

Are GUID and UUID the same in C#?

Yes. .NET calls the 128-bit identifier a Guid, which is the same format as a UUID.

How do I generate UUID v7 in C#?

On .NET 9 and later, use Guid.CreateVersion7(). On older runtimes, use a library.

Should I use Guid.Parse or Guid.TryParse?

Use TryParse for user input so invalid values return false instead of throwing.

Generate UUID / GUID in C# - .NET Examples