Generate UUID Version 6, 7, or 8 in Python 3.14

Unique identifiers are an important building block in many systems, from database keys to distributed tracing. While classic UUID versions like v1, v3, v4, and v5 have been around for years, they aren't always ideal for modern cases - especially when ordering, performance, or custom data embedding matters.

Since Python 3.14, the standard uuid module has been expanded to support UUID versions 6, 7, and 8, making it easier to generate time-ordered and application-defined identifiers without relying on third-party libraries.

Generating these UUIDs is straightforward. Just import the built-in uuid module and call the appropriate helper function.

import uuid

uuid_v6 = uuid.uuid6()
print(uuid_v6) # Example: 1f0e614e-8ae5-69ac-8b0b-b9e93332f7e0

uuid_v7 = uuid.uuid7()
print(uuid_v7) # Example: 019b732c-9f92-779b-9b32-bef211917e04

uuid_v8 = uuid.uuid8()
print(uuid_v8) # Example: ec10a314-4850-8c1b-92c5-690d853b9525

Each call returns a fully compliant UUID object that can be serialized, stored, or compared just like earlier UUID versions.

With built-in support for UUID versions 6, 7, and 8, Python offers up-to-date identifier generation as part of its standard library. This eliminates the need for extra libraries, keeps implementations cleaner, and helps developers create scalable, database-efficient solutions using only Python.