🔑 UUID Generator

Generate universally unique identifiers (UUIDs) on demand through Apify's platform. This Actor supports multiple UUID versions, including version 1 (timestamp-based), version 4 (random), and version 5 (namespace-based), catering to a wide range of application needs.

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✨ Why Use UUID Generator?

• ⚡ Fast & Efficient - Generate thousands of UUIDs in seconds with optimized algorithms
• 🎯 RFC Compliant - All generated UUIDs follow RFC 4122 standards for guaranteed uniqueness
• 📈 Scalable - Generate from 1 to 10,000 UUIDs in a single run with bulk processing
• 🔧 Multiple Versions - Choose from UUID v1, v4, or v5 to meet specific technical requirements
• 📊 Flexible Output - Export UUIDs in JSON, CSV, or plain text formats for easy integration

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📥 Input Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Default	Description
version	String	✅ Yes	"4"	UUID version: 1 (timestamp-based), 4 (random), or 5 (namespace-based)
count	Integer	✅ Yes	100	Number of UUIDs to generate (range: 1-10,000)
namespace	String	❌ No	"example.com"	Namespace for UUID version 5 (required when version is '5')
name	String	❌ No	"default-name"	Name for UUID version 5 (required when version is '5')
outputFormat	String	❌ No	"json"	Output format: json, csv, or text

Note: For UUID version 5, both namespace and name parameters are required. The namespace should be a DNS name, URL, or any string that uniquely identifies your application.

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📖 Usage Examples

Example 1: Basic Random UUIDs

Generate 100 random UUIDs (version 4):

{
  "version": "4",
  "count": 100,
  "outputFormat": "json"
}

Example 2: Timestamp-based UUIDs

Generate 50 timestamp-based UUIDs (version 1):

{
  "version": "1",
  "count": 50,
  "outputFormat": "csv"
}

Example 3: Namespace-based UUIDs

Generate 200 namespace-based UUIDs (version 5):

{
  "version": "5",
  "count": 200,
  "namespace": "mycompany.com",
  "name": "user-session",
  "outputFormat": "text"
}

Example 4: Bulk Generation

Generate the maximum number of UUIDs for large-scale applications:

{
  "version": "4",
  "count": 10000,
  "outputFormat": "json"
}

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📤 Output Data

Each UUID result includes:

Field	Type	Description
uuid	String	Generated UUID string
version	String	UUID version used (1, 4, or 5)
timestamp	String	Generation timestamp in ISO format
index	Integer	Sequential index of the UUID (1-based)

Sample Output

{
  "uuid": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
  "version": "4",
  "timestamp": "2024-01-15T10:30:00.000Z",
  "index": 1
}

Output Formats

• JSON: Structured data with all fields (default)
• CSV: Tabular format with headers for spreadsheet applications
• Text: Plain text file with just the UUID strings (one per line)

Data is delivered in clean, structured format, ready to download as JSON, CSV, plain text, or integrate via API.

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🔍 UUID Versions Explained

Version 1 (Timestamp-based)

• Uses timestamp and MAC address
• Time-ordered and sortable
• Good for database primary keys
• Slightly less random than v4

Version 4 (Random)

• Completely random (except for version bits)
• Most commonly used version
• Highest randomness
• Not time-ordered

Version 5 (Namespace-based)

• Deterministic - same namespace+name always produces same UUID
• Useful for generating consistent identifiers
• Based on SHA-1 hash
• Great for application-specific IDs

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❓ FAQ

Q: How many UUIDs can I generate?
A: You can generate between 1 and 10,000 UUIDs per run. For larger datasets, run the Actor multiple times.

Q: Are the UUIDs guaranteed to be unique?
A: Yes, all generated UUIDs follow RFC 4122 standards. Version 1 and 4 provide practical uniqueness, while version 5 provides deterministic uniqueness within the same namespace.

Q: Which UUID version should I use?
A: Use v4 for general purposes, v1 for time-ordered identifiers, and v5 when you need consistent, reproducible IDs from the same input.

Q: Can I use this for database primary keys?
A: Yes, all UUID versions are suitable for database keys. Version 1 is particularly good for time-ordered data.

Q: What's the difference between output formats?
A: JSON provides full metadata, CSV is ideal for spreadsheets, and text format gives you just the UUID strings for simple integration.

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🎯 Target Audience

This Actor is designed for:

• Software Developers building applications that require unique identifiers
• Database Administrators managing large-scale data systems
• API Developers creating microservices architectures
• QA Testers needing test data with unique identifiers
• System Integrators working on distributed applications

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🚀 Benefits

• Eliminate the need for custom UUID generation scripts
• Ensure compliance with RFC standards for identifier uniqueness
• Save development time with ready-to-use functionality
• Scale reliably for high-volume identifier needs
• Integrate easily with existing Apify workflows and external systems through standard output formats and API accessibility