GUID

Technology & Computing abbreviation · Programming

GUID
Stands forGlobally unique identifier
CategoriesTechnology & Computing

GUID stands for Globally unique identifier, a programming abbreviation.

Microsoft's name for a UUID, the 128-bit identifier used throughout Windows, COM, .NET and SQL Server to label components, interfaces and database rows. It is often displayed in braces, such as {21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}.

Example: The registry key is named after the COM class's GUID, so search for it in regedit.

Usage notes

Functionally the same as a UUID, though Microsoft stores some fields in a different byte order. Pronounced "goo-id" or "gwid". In disk partitioning, the GUID Partition Table (GPT) uses these identifiers to label partitions and their types.

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