Fact Check: Are UUIDs case sensitive?

Fact Check: Are UUIDs case sensitive?

Published May 7, 2025
±
VERDICT
Partially True

# Are UUIDs Case Sensitive? ## Introduction The claim in question is whether Universally Unique Identifiers (UUIDs) are case sensitive. UUIDs are wid...

Are UUIDs Case Sensitive?

Introduction

The claim in question is whether Universally Unique Identifiers (UUIDs) are case sensitive. UUIDs are widely used in computing to uniquely identify information in systems, but the specifics of their case sensitivity can impact how they are utilized in various applications. This article will explore the available evidence regarding the case sensitivity of UUIDs, examining both supporting and contradicting sources.

What We Know

  1. Definition and Structure: UUIDs are 128-bit labels used to uniquely identify objects in computer systems. They are typically represented as 32 hexadecimal digits, displayed in five groups separated by hyphens (8-4-4-4-12 format) 12.

  2. Standardization: The UUID format is standardized in RFC 4122, which specifies that UUIDs should be represented in hexadecimal format. While the specification does not explicitly state that UUIDs are case sensitive, it does recommend that the hexadecimal representation used in human-readable formats be restricted to lower-case letters 48.

  3. Implementation Variability: Different programming languages and systems may handle UUIDs differently. For example, the NSUUID class in Swift formats UUIDs in upper-case letters, while other systems may adhere strictly to the lower-case format as recommended by the standards 5.

  4. Case Sensitivity in Practice: Some sources suggest that while the UUID specification allows for both upper and lower case, the practical implementation in databases and programming environments can lead to case sensitivity issues. For instance, a UUID stored in upper case may not match a UUID stored in lower case in a case-sensitive database 9.

Analysis

The evidence surrounding the case sensitivity of UUIDs is mixed and requires careful evaluation:

  • Source Reliability:

    • The Wikipedia entry on UUIDs provides a general overview but lacks specific technical details regarding case sensitivity 1. While it is a widely used reference, it may not always be the most reliable for technical specifications.
    • UUIDTools.com offers a guide that outlines UUID formatting but does not delve deeply into the implications of case sensitivity 2. Its credibility is bolstered by its focus on UUID generation and usage.
    • RFC 4122 is a primary source and is highly credible as it is the official standard for UUIDs 4. However, it does not explicitly state that UUIDs are case sensitive or insensitive, leaving room for interpretation.
    • The Stack Overflow discussions provide anecdotal evidence and practical insights but may reflect individual experiences rather than standardized practices 59.
  • Conflicting Information:

    • The blog post discussing the mystery of upper-case and lower-case GUID values states that the specification recommends using lower-case letters, which could imply that case sensitivity is a concern 8. However, this is not universally accepted across all implementations.
    • The ITU-T X.667 standard also emphasizes the use of lower-case letters, but again, it does not provide a definitive answer on case sensitivity 6.
  • Methodological Concerns: The lack of empirical studies or surveys on how different systems handle UUIDs in terms of case sensitivity limits the ability to draw firm conclusions. Further research could involve examining various database systems and programming environments to see how they treat UUIDs with different cases.

Conclusion

Verdict: Partially True

The claim regarding the case sensitivity of UUIDs is deemed "Partially True" based on the evidence reviewed. While the UUID specification does not explicitly state that UUIDs are case sensitive, it does recommend the use of lower-case letters for their representation. This recommendation suggests a potential for case sensitivity issues in practical applications, particularly in environments that enforce case sensitivity, such as certain databases.

However, the variability in implementation across different programming languages and systems introduces uncertainty. Some systems may treat UUIDs as case insensitive, while others may not, leading to potential mismatches. The lack of comprehensive empirical studies further complicates the ability to draw definitive conclusions.

Readers are encouraged to critically evaluate information regarding UUIDs and consider the context in which they are used, as the handling of case sensitivity may vary significantly across different applications and environments.

Sources

  1. Universally unique identifier - Wikipedia. Link
  2. Complete guide to Universal Unique Identifiers (UUID) - UUIDTools.com. Link
  3. PDF RFC 9562: Universally Unique IDentifiers (UUIDs). Link
  4. RFC 4122 - A Universally Unique IDentifier (UUID) URN. Link
  5. swift - Why lowercase uuid? - Stack Overflow. Link
  6. Universally Unique Identifiers (UUIDs) - ITU. Link
  7. IETF | Internet Engineering Task Force. Link
  8. The mystery of upper-case and lower-case GUID values. Link
  9. How to select strings in UUID format + case sensitive. Link
  10. Universally Unique Identifiers (UUIDs) - Internet Engineering Task Force. Link

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data that tells us what
corporations do with tax cuts.
This has been one of the most
studied things by universities
around the world for the last
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Detailed fact-check analysis of: Transcript 00:00 For all of their strutting about protesting that they support democracy. Not a one of them gave a damn about democracy when they pulled Biden off the ballot and dropped Kamala Harris in without a single Democrat primary voter voting for him. And you know what? Not a single Democrat is here today because not a single one of them gives a damn about the fact that they lied to the American people for four years. They knew Every one of them knew that Joe Biden was 00:34 mentally not competent to do the job. The White House Press Secretary. She knew when she stood in front of the American people and lied over and over and over again and they're not here because they can't defend themselves. It wasn't a surprise for four years the White House hid President Biden from Republican Senators. Would not let him meet with us. He served 40 years in this body. We all know him. And they deliberately lied and by the way Jake Tapper had a bombshell 01:08 book exposing the incredible scandal that Biden's mental decline was covered up by Jake Tapper. There's a Yiddish word and that truly is how dare we lie and cover up what we all knew. Now I have been asked literally a thousand times by Texans. Was running the country? And I'm going to give 01:40 you the most terrifying answer. I don't know. I genuinely don't know. And not a single Democrat here cares. The most telling proof of Biden's decline came with the signature of the president. The symbol of executive authority that was outsourced to a machine. Mister Wald you're a lawyer who served in the White House Council's Office. You understand the gravity of presidential action. Does the president's signature 02:10 carry legal and constitutional weight under article two? Yes. Is the act of signing an executive order or signing a law or granting a pardon a delegable duty of the president. Uh so in that opinion in 2005 from OLC they said essentially that an autopin could be used by a subordinate but the president's determination as to sign the document can never be delegated. Can that authority 02:41 be transferred to a staff or a machine without the president's explicit authorization? Never. And if you look at the statistics, the statistics are stunning. In 2021, President Biden issued 78 executive orders. None were signed with an auto pen. That first year the presidency, Biden I suppose was relatively lucid and 78 executive orders he signed by hand. The second year, however, we see the auto pen emerged. 03:15 The first auto pen executive order was issued on 15th 2022. After that day 100% of the executive orders issued in 2022 were signed by an autopen. In 2023 Biden issued twenty-four executive orders. 16 were auto penned. In 20twenty-four Biden issued 19. 14 were auto penned. 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