Generate UUIDs (GUIDs) in C#
Complete code tutorial with examples and best practices
[ Code Example - Quick Summary ]
Language: C#
What: Generate UUIDs (called GUIDs in .NET) using the <code>System.Guid</code> struct. Built into .NET Framework, .NET Core, and .NET 5+.
Try it: Use our interactive Uuids generator or integrate this code into your C# application.
Generate UUIDs (called GUIDs in .NET) using the System.Guid struct. Built into .NET Framework, .NET Core, and .NET 5+.
Looking for other languages? Check our code examples in
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C# Code Example
using System;
class UuidExample
{
static void Main()
{
// Generate new GUID (UUID v4)
Guid guid = Guid.NewGuid();
Console.WriteLine(guid); // Example: 3d6f9e64-7d8a-4c3e-8f2b-1a4e5c6d7e8f
// Format variations
Console.WriteLine(guid.ToString()); // Default: 3d6f9e64-7d8a-4c3e-8f2b-1a4e5c6d7e8f
Console.WriteLine(guid.ToString("N")); // No dashes: 3d6f9e647d8a4c3e8f2b1a4e5c6d7e8f
Console.WriteLine(guid.ToString("D")); // With dashes (default)
Console.WriteLine(guid.ToString("B")); // Braces: {3d6f9e64-7d8a-4c3e-8f2b-1a4e5c6d7e8f}
Console.WriteLine(guid.ToString("P")); // Parentheses: (3d6f9e64-7d8a-4c3e-8f2b-1a4e5c6d7e8f)
// Parse GUID from string
string guidString = "3d6f9e64-7d8a-4c3e-8f2b-1a4e5c6d7e8f";
if (Guid.TryParse(guidString, out Guid parsed))
{
Console.WriteLine($"Parsed: {parsed}");
}
// Generate multiple GUIDs
var guids = new List<Guid>();
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++)
{
guids.Add(Guid.NewGuid());
}
// Empty GUID
Guid empty = Guid.Empty; // 00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000
Console.WriteLine($"Empty: {empty}");
}
}
[EXPLANATION]
Guid.NewGuid() generates UUID v4 using cryptographically secure random number generation. The Guid struct provides multiple formatting options. In C#, UUIDs are called GUIDs (Globally Unique Identifiers).
Expected Output
3d6f9e64-7d8a-4c3e-8f2b-1a4e5c6d7e8f
3d6f9e647d8a4c3e8f2b1a4e5c6d7e8f
{3d6f9e64-7d8a-4c3e-8f2b-1a4e5c6d7e8f}
(3d6f9e64-7d8a-4c3e-8f2b-1a4e5c6d7e8f)
00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000
Common Use Cases
- ASP.NET Core entity IDs
- Entity Framework primary keys
- Azure resource identifiers
- WPF/WinForms unique controls
- Xamarin mobile app IDs
- SignalR connection IDs
Important Notes
-
Guidis a value type (struct), not reference type -
Use
Guid.Emptyfor null/default GUID checks -
TryParse()is safer thanParse() - SQL Server stores GUIDs as UNIQUEIDENTIFIER type
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Don't want to write code? Use our free web-based Uuids generator with instant results.
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