# Python UUID Module

The `uuid` module provides immutable UUID objects (Universally Unique Identifiers) and the functions `uuid1()`, `uuid3()`, `uuid4()`, and `uuid5()` for generating version 1, 3, 4, and 5 UUIDs as specified in RFC 4122.

## Importing the Module

```python
import uuid
```

## Generating UUIDs

### UUID4 (Random)

This is the most commonly used version. It generates a random UUID.

```python
import uuid

id = uuid.uuid4()
print(id)
# Output example: 8f1496c6-3347-479f-b725-225538192726

print(type(id)) # <class 'uuid.UUID'>
```

### UUID1 (Host & Time)

Generates a UUID from a host ID, sequence number, and the current time.

```python
id = uuid.uuid1()
print(id)
```

### UUID3 and UUID5 (Name-based)

Generate a UUID using an MD5 hash (`uuid3`) or SHA-1 hash (`uuid5`) of a namespace UUID and a name.

```python
# uuid3 (MD5)
print(uuid.uuid3(uuid.NAMESPACE_DNS, 'python.org'))

# uuid5 (SHA-1) - Preferred over uuid3
print(uuid.uuid5(uuid.NAMESPACE_DNS, 'python.org'))
```

## Converting to String

UUID objects are not strings, but they convert easily.

```python
id = uuid.uuid4()
str_id = str(id)
print(str_id)
```

## Hex Representation

You can get the raw hex string (without dashes).

```python
print(id.hex)
```

[[programming/python/python]]