ULID (Universally Unique Lexicographically Sortable Identifier) is a 26-character string format that combines a timestamp with random data to create identifiers that are both unique and sortable by creation time. ULIDs are an alternative to UUIDs with better sorting capabilities.

Why use ULIDs instead of UUIDs?

ULIDs offer several advantages over UUIDs: they are lexicographically sortable by generation time, they use a more compact representation (26 characters vs 36 for UUIDs), they're case-insensitive, and they avoid problematic characters like hyphens.

How do I convert a UUID to a ULID?

You can convert a UUID to a ULID using our UUID Converter tool. Simply paste your UUID into the input field and click Convert. The tool supports UUID v1, v4, v7, and any hex string, converting them losslessly to ULID format and back.

Can I decode a ULID to see its timestamp?

Yes, you can decode a ULID using our ULID Decoder tool. It will show you the timestamp in various formats (Unix timestamp, ISO string, human-readable date) and the random component in different representations.

Are ULIDs suitable for database primary keys?

Yes, ULIDs are excellent for database primary keys. They're sortable by creation time which improves database performance, they're URL-safe, and they can be generated without a central coordinator, making them ideal for distributed systems.

What is NanoID and when should I use it?

NanoID is a tiny, secure, URL-friendly unique string ID generator. It's smaller and faster than UUID and is ideal for generating short unique IDs for URLs, session tokens, or any situation where a compact random identifier is needed. Unlike ULID, NanoID is not time-sortable.

What is a Snowflake ID?

Snowflake ID is a 64-bit unique identifier format originally developed by Twitter. It encodes a timestamp, datacenter ID, machine ID, and sequence number. Snowflake IDs are sortable by time, extremely fast to generate, and widely used in distributed systems like Twitter, Discord, and Instagram.

How do I decode a JWT token?

Paste your JWT token into our JWT Decoder tool to instantly see the decoded header, payload, and signature. The tool shows all claims including expiry time (exp), issued-at (iat), and custom claims. No data is sent to any server — decoding is done entirely in your browser.

What is CUID and CUID2?

CUID (Collision-resistant Unique Identifier) is designed for horizontal scalability and sequential IDs for databases and distributed systems. CUID2 is the improved next generation with better security and randomness properties. Both are excellent alternatives to UUID for Node.js applications.

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UUID to ULID Converter

Convert any UUID (v1, v4, v7) to ULID format and back. Lossless 128-bit conversion using Crockford Base32 encoding. Works entirely in your browser — no server, no tracking.

UUID Tools

Convert, generate & inspect UUIDs (v4/v7)

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Note: When converting UUID to ULID, the current timestamp will be used. This means the same UUID will produce different ULIDs at different times.

Input

Output

Use lowercase for UUID output

Unix Timestamp: 1780127290

UUID vs ULID — What's the Difference?

Feature	UUID v4	ULID
Length	36 chars	26 chars
Sortable	No	Yes (by time)
Timestamp	No (none)	Yes (48-bit ms precision)
Hyphens	Yes	No
Encoding	Hex	Crockford Base32
Case sensitive	Yes	No

How the Conversion Works

Both UUID and ULID represent 128-bit values. The converter strips hyphens from the UUID, parses it as a hex integer, then re-encodes the same bits as Crockford Base32 — giving you a 26-character ULID. The process is fully reversible with zero data loss.

Related tools: ULID Generator ULID Decoder NanoID Generator

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UUID to ULID Converter

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UUID vs ULID — What's the Difference?

How the Conversion Works

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