A globally unique identifier or GUID (pronounced /ˈɡuːɪd/ or /ˈɡwɪd/) is a special type of identifier used in software applications to provide a reference number which is unique in any context (hence, "globally"), for example, in defining the internal reference for a type of access point in a software application, or for creating unique keys in a database. While each generated GUID is not guaranteed to be unique, the total number of unique keys (...
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A globally unique identifier or GUID (pronounced /ˈɡuːɪd/ or /ˈɡwɪd/) is a special type of identifier used in software applications to provide a reference number which is unique in any context (hence, "globally"), for example, in defining the internal reference for a type of access point in a software application, or for creating unique keys in a database. While each generated GUID is not guaranteed to be unique, the total number of unique keys (2 or 3.4×10) is so large that the probability of the same number being generated twice is extremely small.
The term GUID usually refers to Microsoft's implementation of the Universally Unique Identifier (UUID) standard. However, the term is common in applications not written by Microsoft, or for their operating systems. The GUID is also the basis of the GUID Partition Table, Intel's replacement for Master Boot Records under EFI, and of Preboot Execution Environment, Intel's environment to boot computers using a network interface.
The GUID is a...
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