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UUID

Generate universally unique identifiers for reliable data identification in workflows

What is UUID?​

The UUID node is a utility tool that generates universally unique identifiers (UUIDs) for downstream processing. It currently supports UUID version 4, which generates random UUIDs that are statistically guaranteed to be unique across systems and time. This node is essential for creating unique identifiers for records, sessions, or any data that requires a globally unique reference.

How to use it?​

To effectively use the UUID node in your workflow, follow these steps:

  1. Configure the UUID Type:

    • The node currently supports UUID Version 4, which generates random UUIDs
    • UUID Version 4 is the most commonly used format and provides excellent uniqueness guarantees
    • The default setting is already configured for optimal usage

  2. No Input Required:

    • The UUID node doesn't require any input connections
    • It generates a fresh UUID each time the workflow runs
    • No configuration or external data is needed

  3. Connecting the Output:

    • Connect the 'UUID' output anchor to any node that requires a unique identifier
    • The output is a string type, making it compatible with most nodes that accept text input
    • Common use cases include database record IDs, session identifiers, or tracking references

Example of usage​

Objective: Create a workflow that generates a unique identifier for tracking a data processing operation.

In this example:

  1. The UUID node generates a unique identifier
  2. A text node combines it with descriptive text
  3. The database writer uses this unique ID to track the operation

Additional information​

UUIDs generated by this node follow the RFC 4122 standard for UUID Version 4. Each generated UUID has a very low probability of collision (approximately 1 in 2^122), making them suitable for distributed systems where coordination between components is not feasible. The UUID format follows the pattern: xxxxxxxx-xxxx-4xxx-yxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx where x is any hexadecimal digit and y is one of 8, 9, A, or B.

Common use cases include:

  • Database primary keys
  • Session identifiers
  • File naming for uniqueness
  • Correlation IDs for distributed tracing
  • Temporary resource identifiers