In MySQL, UUIDs are generated using the UUID() function and follow version 1 standards, combining a server's MAC address with a timestamp. To generate a UUID, use SELECT UUID(); or insert it into a table with INSERT INTO users (id, name) VALUES (UUID(), 'Alice');. Ensure the column is CHAR(36) for efficiency. Tips: avoid UUIDs as primary keys unless needed, be cautious of index fragmentation. For storage efficiency, convert UUIDs to binary using UUID_TO_BIN() and store in BINARY(16), retrieve using UUID_FROM_BIN(). UUIDs are ideal for distributed systems or when merging databases; otherwise, auto-increment IDs are faster and simpler.
UUIDs (Universally Unique Identifiers) are handy when you need a unique identifier that doesn't rely on auto-incremented integers. In MySQL, there's a built-in function to generate UUIDs, and it’s pretty straightforward once you know how it works.

What is a UUID in MySQL?
MySQL generates UUIDs according to UUID version 1, which means it combines the server's MAC address (or an equivalent unique identifier if the MAC isn’t available) with a timestamp precise to the millisecond. The result looks like this: aaaaaaaa-bbbb-cccc-dddd-eeeeeeeeeeee
. It's guaranteed to be unique across tables, databases, and even servers — as long as they have different hardware addresses or timestamps.
How to Generate a UUID in MySQL
Use the UUID()
function directly in your query:

SELECT UUID();
You’ll get a new UUID every time you run it. This is commonly used when inserting new records into a table:
INSERT INTO users (id, name) VALUES (UUID(), 'Alice');
Make sure the column you're inserting into is of type CHAR(36)
since UUIDs are 36 characters long. Using VARCHAR
can work too, but CHAR(36)
is more efficient for fixed-length strings.

A few tips:
- Avoid using UUIDs as primary keys unless you really need global uniqueness. They’re larger and slower than integers.
- If you're generating UUIDs in bulk, be aware that they might cause index fragmentation because they're random.
Storing UUIDs Efficiently
Storing UUIDs in their default string format (CHAR(36)
) takes up more space and can slow down queries. A better approach is to convert them into a binary format using UUID_TO_BIN()
:
INSERT INTO users (binary_id) VALUES (UUID_TO_BIN(UUID()));
And when retrieving:
SELECT UUID_FROM_BIN(binary_id) AS id FROM users;
This reduces storage size from 36 bytes to just 16 bytes and improves indexing performance.
Keep in mind:
-
UUID_TO_BIN()
by default swaps the first and third groups, which helps with index locality. If you want to disable this behavior, useUUID_TO_BIN(uuid, 1)
. - Make sure your column is defined as
BINARY(16)
to store the converted value correctly.
When to Use UUIDs vs Auto-Increment IDs
Auto-incremented integers are simpler and faster, especially for single-database setups. But UUIDs shine in certain scenarios:
- You need to merge data from multiple databases without ID conflicts.
- You're building distributed systems where multiple nodes generate IDs independently.
- You want to obscure record counts or avoid predictable IDs for security reasons.
If your application is small or doesn’t require cross-database uniqueness, stick with auto-increment IDs. For larger or distributed applications, UUIDs offer flexibility at the cost of some performance and storage efficiency.
That's about it. Not too complicated, but worth understanding before jumping into full-scale use.
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