About GUID
GUID (Globally Unique Identifier) is a 128-bit identifier widely used in computer systems and software development to ensure that each GUID generated is unique in both space and time. GUIDs are most commonly implemented following Microsoft’s UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) standard. The generation algorithm guarantees that every GUID is unique without requiring centralized storage or coordination.
Characteristics of GUID
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Global Uniqueness: GUID generation considers factors such as system time, hardware address (MAC address), and random numbers to ensure high uniqueness.
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Universality: GUID is widely used across databases, distributed systems, file naming conventions, device identification, and more. Its structure is compatible across platforms and systems.
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Efficient Generation: The process of generating GUIDs does not rely on centralized coordination or complex dependencies, making it highly efficient and localizable.
Main Application Scenarios
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Database Systems: GUID is used as a primary key in distributed databases to avoid conflicts or the need for inter-server coordination.
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Software Development: GUIDs are assigned to objects, sessions, or components to ensure decoupling and conflict-free identification across systems.
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Data Exchange: GUIDs uniquely identify resources in distributed systems, facilitating cross-service and cross-platform data synchronization and access.
Structure of GUID
A typical GUID is represented as a 32-character hexadecimal string divided into five sections. For example: 550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000. The structure is as follows:
- First 4 characters: Timestamp
- Middle sections: Machine Identifier
- Remaining characters: Random values or other unique factors
Thanks to its simple, efficient, and reliable design, GUID has become an essential tool in modern development and data handling.