UUID Generator

Code guide

Generate UUIDs in Java

Generate UUIDs in Java with java.util.UUID, parse strings, and add UUID v7 with a maintained library.

By UUID GeneratorUpdated Reviewed for accuracy

Java has a built-in UUID class for version 4. It covers most needs out of the box; time-ordered UUID v7 requires a small, well-maintained library.

Key takeaways

  • UUID.randomUUID() generates a version 4 UUID with no dependencies.
  • UUID.fromString() parses and validates canonical UUID text.
  • For UUID v7, use a maintained library such as uuid-creator.

Generate and parse with the JDK

The standard library covers UUID v4 and parsing. fromString throws IllegalArgumentException for invalid input, which you can catch to validate.

import java.util.UUID;

UUID id = UUID.randomUUID();          // version 4
String text = id.toString();

UUID parsed = UUID.fromString(text);  // throws if invalid

UUID v7 in Java

The JDK does not generate UUID v7. Add a maintained library when you need time-ordered keys for databases and logs.

// com.github.f4b6a3:uuid-creator
import com.github.f4b6a3.uuid.UuidCreator;

UUID v7 = UuidCreator.getTimeOrderedEpoch();

FAQ

Generate UUIDs in Java questions

Does java.util.UUID support version 7?

No. UUID.randomUUID() produces version 4. For UUID v7 use a maintained library such as uuid-creator.

How do I validate a UUID in Java?

Call UUID.fromString and catch IllegalArgumentException, or match a strict regex before parsing.

Is UUID.randomUUID thread-safe?

Yes. It is safe to call from multiple threads and uses a secure random source.

Generate UUID in Java - java.util.UUID Examples