A Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) is a program code used to identify a digital asset within a computer system. It is designed to be unique across multiple systems which can store and transfer data. GUIDs are used in many applications to ensure that any property or asset, such as a user’s personal information, is identified in a consistent and reliable way.
GUIDs are created by a computer algorithm and are commonly 32 or 36 characters long. The algorithm ensures that the generated code is unique from any other code in existence. The primary purpose of a GUID is to estimate the odds of a digital asset being duplicated by another computer system.
Software developers can use GUIDs when building applications that require a reliable identifier for a digital asset outside the context of an application such as in a web-based API or a data exchange. Due to the unique nature of a GUID, there is a low chance of two unique identifier values being registered to an application.
A GUID can also be used to label filenames or as an ID for registry keys in Windows Server. The disadvantage of using GUIDs for filenames and registry keys is that the randomness of the language makes them harder to store and remember. As a result, some developers opt for more human-readable identifiers.
GUIDs are a common part of computer programming and are being used increasingly as computer systems become more powerful and interconnected. They are used for a variety of purposes from authentication processes to tracking data exchanges between systems. They are also gaining in popularity due to their unique nature, increasing the reliability of the data stored within any given system.
Thanks to the GUID system being essential to data storage, computer systems are now able to store and retrieve data in a much more efficient manner than what was previously possible.
