UUID Security Best Practices

Are UUIDs Secure?

UUID v4 uses cryptographically strong random generation, making them suitable for security-sensitive applications. However, not all UUID versions are equally secure.

Security Considerations

1. Use v4 for Security Tokens

For session IDs, API keys, and authentication tokens, always use UUID v4 with cryptographically secure random generation.

2. Avoid v1 for Public IDs

UUID v1 exposes your MAC address and timestamp, which can be a privacy concern.

3. Don't Rely Solely on UUIDs

While UUIDs are unpredictable, implement proper authentication and authorization alongside them.

Database Indexing

UUIDs have performance implications for database indexing. Consider ULID or UUID v7 for time-ordered keys that are more index-friendly.