How to Generate a UUID in Python

Generate a random UUID (v4)

uuid4() is the go-to function. It returns a UUID object; call str() on it (or use .hex) when you need a string to store or send.

import uuid

# Random UUID (version 4)
new_id = uuid.uuid4()

print(new_id)        # e.g. 9b2e4f1a-3c6d-4e58-9f0a-1b2c3d4e5f60
print(str(new_id))   # same value as a string
print(new_id.hex)    # 32 hex chars, no hyphens

Time-ordered UUIDs in Python 3.14+

Python 3.14 adds uuid6(), uuid7(), and uuid8(). Use uuid7() for new time-ordered identifiers; older Python versions do not expose these functions. See the Python standard-library uuid documentation for version-specific availability.

import uuid

print(uuid.uuid7())  # Python 3.14 or later

Time-based (v1) and name-based (v5) UUIDs

Use uuid1() for a time-based UUID and uuid5() for a deterministic, name-based UUID. uuid5() always returns the same value for the same namespace and name.

import uuid

# Time-based UUID (version 1)
print(uuid.uuid1())

# Name-based UUID (version 5) — deterministic
print(uuid.uuid5(uuid.NAMESPACE_DNS, "example.com"))

Parse a UUID string in Python

uuid.UUID() accepts UUID syntax, including reserved layouts. Successful parsing does not verify an RFC version, provenance, uniqueness, or suitability as a security token. Inspect the variant and version when your application requires a specific layout.

import uuid

def is_valid_uuid(value: str) -> bool:
    try:
        uuid.UUID(value)
        return True
    except ValueError:
        return False

print(is_valid_uuid("9b2e4f1a-3c6d-4e58-9f0a-1b2c3d4e5f60"))  # True
print(is_valid_uuid("not-a-uuid"))                            # False

Parsing is not a version policy

UUID(text) accepts multiple textual forms. Parsing successfully does not establish that the value is the version your application requires. Check the variant and version separately. Do not pass version=4 to UUID(...) as validation: that argument overrides bits.

import uuid
value = uuid.UUID("919108f7-52d1-4320-9bac-f847db4148a8")
assert value.variant == uuid.RFC_4122 and value.version == 4
assert uuid.UUID(bytes=value.bytes) == value
print(str(value), value.hex)

Frequently asked questions

Which UUID version should I use in Python?

uuid4() (random) is the best default. Use uuid1() if you need time-based IDs and uuid5() when you need the same UUID for the same input.

Do I need to install anything to use uuid in Python?

No. The uuid module is part of the Python standard library, so it is available in any Python 3 installation.

How do I get a UUID without hyphens in Python?

Use the .hex attribute, e.g. uuid.uuid4().hex, which returns the 32-character form without hyphens.

Official references

• Python UUID documentation