A UUID is a 128-bit, RFC 4122-compliant identifier ensuring uniqueness across decentralized systems. Its 32-character format powers databases, APIs, and distributed apps via v1 (time-based) precision or v4 (random) cryptography.
UUIDs are created using algorithms combining timestamps, random values, or hardware details, depending on the version. Developers use built-in libraries (e.g., Python, JavaScript) to generate them programmatically, ensuring uniqueness for data management, conflict-free databases, or secure anonymization.