java.util.UUID.randomUUID().toString() length
Does java.util.UUID.randomUUID().toString() length always equal to 36?
Yes!! it is.
A UUID
actually a 128 bit value (2 long). To represent 128 bit into hex string there will be 128/4=32
char (each char is 4bit long). In string format it also contains 4 (-
) that's why the length is 36.
example: 54947df8-0e9e-4471-a2f9-9af509fb5889
32 hex char + 4 hyphen char = 36 char. So the length will be always same.
Update:
I do not know what type 4 means in the case.?
FYI: There are several ways of generating UUID. Here type 4 means this uuid is generated using a random or pseudo-random number. From wiki - Universally_unique_identifier#Versions:
Versions
For both variants 1 and 2, five "versions" are defined in the standards, and each version may be more appropriate than the others in specific use cases. Version is indicated by the M in the string representation.
Version 1 UUIDs are generated from a time and a node id (usually the MAC address);
version 2 UUIDs are generated from an identifier (usually a group or user id), time, and a node id;
versions 3 and 5 produce deterministic UUIDs generated by hashing a namespace identifier and name;
and version 4 UUIDs are generated using a random or pseudo-random number.
You may convert UUIDv4 16 bytes binary to 24 bytes ascii using base64, instead encode to ascii-hex (32 bytes)
For those like me that start googling before reading the javadoc, here the javadoc ;)
UUID.toString
For those that Don't know how to read a grammar tree read from Bottom to Top.
an hexDigit is one char
an hexOctet is 2 hexDigits = 2chars
a node is 6 * hexOctet = 6 * 2hexdigit = 6*2 chars = 12chars
a variant_and_sequence is 2 * hexOctet = 2 * 2hexdigit = 2*2 chars = 4chars
a time_high_and_version is 2 * hexOctet = 2 * 2hexdigit = 2*2 chars = 4chars
a time_mid is 2 * hexOctet = 2 * 2hexdigit = 2*2 chars = 4chars
a time_low is 4 * hexOctet = 4* 2hexdigit = 4*2 chars = 8chars
and finaly, a UUID is < time_low > "-" < time_mid > "-" < time_high_and_version > "-" < variant_and_sequence > "-"< node >
= 8 chars + 1 char + 4 chars + 1 char + 4 chars + 1 char + 4 chars + 1 char + 12 chars
= 36 chars ! 128 bit of data + 4 hyphen as stated previously
The UUID string representation is as described by this BNF:
UUID = <time_low> "-" <time_mid> "-"
<time_high_and_version> "-"
<variant_and_sequence> "-"
<node>
time_low = 4*<hexOctet>
time_mid = 2*<hexOctet>
time_high_and_version = 2*<hexOctet>
variant_and_sequence = 2*<hexOctet>
node = 6*<hexOctet>
hexOctet = <hexDigit><hexDigit>
hexDigit =
"0" | "1" | "2" | "3" | "4" | "5" | "6" | "7" | "8" | "9"
| "a" | "b" | "c" | "d" | "e" | "f"
| "A" | "B" | "C" | "D" | "E" | "F"