UUID Generator for API Resource Identifiers
Quick Answer: UUIDs are the standard for API resource identifiers because they are globally unique, unguessable, and can be generated client-side. Use lowercase hyphenated format (550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000) in your API responses.
FAQ
Should API IDs be UUIDs or short IDs?
UUIDs for internal APIs and databases. Short IDs (like YouTube video IDs) for user-facing URLs where readability matters. You can have both.
Can clients generate their own UUIDs?
Yes. UUIDv4 has negligible collision probability (2^122 random bits). Client-generated UUIDs enable offline-first and optimistic UI patterns.