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Best practice on creating a unique alphanumeric id

Tom Ireland

1 month ago
I'm looking to create a unique ID to use in a URL but don't want to use UUID. A bit like how toddle creates a unique id for nodes and classes.

I usually create them by generating a random number in a formula, multiplying it by 100000 and then round it, which usually produces a 6 digit unique ID.

My thinking is just to convert the number output to a string and then encode it as base64.

Would that work? Anything I should be mindful of and is there a better way?
Tom Ireland

1 month ago
Best practice on creating a unique alphanumeric id
Armand

1 month ago
Alternatively you could also use the Now node to get a unix timestamp. Although it will be a bit longer than 6 digits.
@Armand
Alternatively you could also use the Now node to get a unix timestamp. Although it will be a bit longer than 6 digits.
Tom Ireland

1 month ago
Good shout, Armand! I did think about that but wanted to rule out the possibility of someone clicking at the exact same moment. Unlikely but worth bearing in mind.
@Tom Ireland
Good shout, Armand! I did think about that but wanted to rule out the possibility of someone clicking at the exact same moment. Unlikely but worth bearing in mind.
Armand

1 month ago
Unlikely indeed if it is in ms, but not impossible. You can always append or prepend with a single digit random number. So then there is a 1 in 10 chance of getting the same string of numbers two people click at the exact same time.

But perhaps there are easier ways of doing this 🙂
Tom Ireland

1 month ago
Aye, good suggestions. Loads of ways to skin a cat I guess.
Max

1 month ago
Hey Tom! What is the use case for that? Those approaches won't generate UUIDs, but only "probably-unique-in-the-current-context" ids
@Max
Hey Tom! What is the use case for that? Those approaches won't generate UUIDs, but only "probably-unique-in-the-current-context" ids
Tom Ireland

1 month ago
I'm trying to create a unique id for a url parameter. I could auto-generate a uuid in the db when the record is created but that's quite long to share (when sharing the URL with others containing the unique id). I just wanted to create something relatively small but that will still remain unique.
Max

1 month ago
If it has to be unique, you need to create it in the backend or use a library.
Personally, I would do it in the backend
👍1

Best practice on creating a unique alphanumeric id

Tom Ireland

Tom Ireland

Armand

Tom Ireland

Armand

Tom Ireland

Max

Tom Ireland

Max

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