UUIDs are recognizable, have a version field, can be sorted in the case of UUIDv7, a standardized format means easy interoperability (eg, encoding, validation, serialization etc), and databases can optimize storage and efficiency when using a native UUID type.

If just using random bytes, you still need to make decisions about how to serialize, put it in a URL, logging etc so you’re basically just inventing you’re own format anyway for a problem that’s already solved.

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masklinn 2 hours ago | parent [-]

That the problem is already solved does not mean the solution is good. Or that you can’t solve it better.

A uuidv4 is 15.25 bytes of payload encoded in 36 bytes (using standard serialisation), in a format which is not conducive to gui text selection.

You can encode 16 whole bytes in 26 bytes of easily selectable content by using a random source and encoding in base32, or 22 by using base58.

	▲	sevg an hour ago \| parent [-]
		You’re absolutely right! The first thing anyone says about uuids is: i need them to be easily selectable in gui /s