How To Check Uuid Validity In Python?

UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) is a 128-bit label used for information in computer systems. UUIDs are widely used in various applications and systems to uniquely identify information without requiring a central authority to manage the identifiers.

This article will guide you through checking the validity of a UUID in Python.

What is a UUID?

A UUID is a 128-bit number used to uniquely identify objects or entities on the internet. They are typically represented as 32 hexadecimal digits, displayed in five groups separated by hyphens, in the form 8-4-4-4-12.

Example of a UUID: 550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000

There are several versions of UUIDs. Each has a different purpose to serve:

  1. Version 1: It is time-based and generates a timestamp and host ID.
  2. Version 3 and 5: It is name-based and generates an MD5 hash of namespace and name.
  3. Version 4: It randomly generated UUID.
  4. Version 5: Itis name-based and generates SHA-1 hash of namespace and name.

Steps to Check UUID Validity in Python

Let us see each step one by one for a better understanding on how to check Uuid validity in Python.

Import Module

In Python, the uuid module provides tools for generating and handling UUIDs.

import uuid

Validate the UUID

To validate Uuid, we use UUID() function of uuid module, which takes two arguments, the uuid to check and the version type.

This function will attempt to create a UUID object from a string. If the string is not a valid UUID, a ValueError is raised, and the function returns False. If no exception is raised, the function checks if the string representation of the UUID object matches the original string. This ensures that the format is correct.

uuid_obj = uuid.UUID(uuid_to_test, version)

Example: In this example, we create a function that takes the Uuid to be tested and the version number of the Uuid. Then inside a try except block we check for the Uuid validity using the UUID() function.

Python
# import uuid module
import uuid

def is_valid_uuid(uuid_to_test, version=4):
    try:
        # check for validity of Uuid
        uuid_obj = uuid.UUID(uuid_to_test, version=version)
    except ValueError:
        return "Invalid Uuid"
    return "Valid Uuid"

test_uuid = '550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000'
print(is_valid_uuid(test_uuid))

invalid_uuid = '550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-44665544000Z'
print(is_valid_uuid(invalid_uuid))

Output:

Valid Uuid
Invalid Uuid

Use Cases and Applications

Check for Uuid can be crucial while working with data. They ensuring data uniqueness and integrity. It can be used in the following applications:

  1. Database Keys: UUIDs are commonly used as primary keys in databases to ensure uniqueness across distributed systems without coordination.
  2. Distributed Systems: UUIDs ensure unique identifiers across different machines and networks, facilitating reliable data merging and synchronization.
  3. API Tokens and Identifiers: UUIDs are often used for generating unique tokens for APIs, sessions, and other identifiers in web applications.

Conclusion

Checking the validity of UUIDs in Python is straightforward with the help of the uuid module. By understanding the different versions of UUIDs and implementing proper validation techniques, you can effectively use UUIDs in various applications, ensuring uniqueness and reliability.