github.com/muratcelep/terraform@v1.1.0-beta2-not-internal-4/website/docs/language/functions/uuid.html.md (about) 1 --- 2 layout: "language" 3 page_title: "uuid - Functions - Configuration Language" 4 sidebar_current: "docs-funcs-crypto-uuid" 5 description: |- 6 The uuid function generates a unique id. 7 --- 8 9 # `uuid` Function 10 11 `uuid` generates a unique identifier string. 12 13 The id is a generated and formatted as required by 14 [RFC 4122 section 4.4](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc4122#section-4.4), 15 producing a Version 4 UUID. The result is a UUID generated only from 16 pseudo-random numbers. 17 18 This function produces a new value each time it is called, and so using it 19 directly in resource arguments will result in spurious diffs. We do not 20 recommend using the `uuid` function in resource configurations, but it can 21 be used with care in conjunction with 22 [the `ignore_changes` lifecycle meta-argument](/docs/language/meta-arguments/lifecycle.html#ignore_changes). 23 24 In most cases we recommend using [the `random` provider](https://registry.terraform.io/providers/hashicorp/random/latest/docs) 25 instead, since it allows the one-time generation of random values that are 26 then retained in the Terraform [state](/docs/language/state/index.html) for use by 27 future operations. In particular, 28 [`random_id`](https://registry.terraform.io/providers/hashicorp/random/latest/docs/resources/id) can generate results with 29 equivalent randomness to the `uuid` function. 30 31 ## Examples 32 33 ``` 34 > uuid() 35 b5ee72a3-54dd-c4b8-551c-4bdc0204cedb 36 ``` 37 38 ## Related Functions 39 40 * [`uuidv5`](./uuidv5.html), which generates name-based UUIDs.