UUID Generator for Database Primary Keys
Quick Answer: For database primary keys, UUID v7 is the best choice in 2026. It provides globally unique IDs like v4 but with time-sorted ordering that keeps B-tree indexes efficient. Auto-increment IDs are simpler but expose record counts and fail in distributed systems.
FAQ
Should I use UUID or auto-increment for primary keys?
UUID for distributed systems, multi-database merges, or when you want to hide record counts. Auto-increment for simple single-database apps where simplicity matters.
How do I store UUIDs efficiently in a database?
Use the native UUID type in PostgreSQL. In MySQL, use BINARY(16) instead of CHAR(36) to save space and improve performance.