Nano ID Generator: Fast, Secure Unique IDs Online
Generate Nano IDs instantly with our free online generator. Nano ID is a tiny, secure, URL-friendly unique string ID generator that's 60% faster than UUID. Create compact, cryptographically secure identifiers for databases, URLs, APIs, and more. All IDs are generated locally in your browser using secure random number generation.
What is Nano ID?
Nano ID is a JavaScript library for generating unique string IDs. Created as a modern alternative to UUID, it produces shorter, URL-safe identifiers while maintaining cryptographic security. The default 21-character format provides the same collision resistance as UUID but in a more compact form.
Nano ID vs UUID
Size: Nano ID uses 21 characters by default vs UUID's 36 characters (42% smaller).
Performance: Nano ID is approximately 60% faster than UUID generation.
Alphabet: Nano ID uses URL-safe characters (A-Za-z0-9_-) by default, while UUID uses hexadecimal with hyphens.
Customization: Nano ID allows custom alphabets and sizes, UUID has fixed format.
Security: Both use cryptographically secure random number generation.
When to Use Nano ID
- Database Primary Keys: Shorter than UUID, easier to read and type
- URL Slugs: URL-safe by default, perfect for short links
- API Development: Compact request IDs and session tokens
- File Names: Safe for file systems and URLs
- Temporary Resources: Cache keys, temporary uploads, etc.
Custom Alphabets
Our generator supports multiple alphabet options. The default alphabet (A-Za-z0-9_-) is URL-safe and includes 64 characters. You can also use alphanumeric only, numbers only, or create a custom alphabet for specific requirements. Smaller alphabets require longer IDs to maintain the same collision resistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How secure is Nano ID?
Nano ID uses the Web Crypto API's cryptographically secure random number generator, making it suitable for security-sensitive applications. The collision probability is negligible for practical use.
What length should I use?
The default 21 characters provides excellent collision resistance. For most applications, 21 characters is recommended. Use shorter lengths (10-15) for non-critical temporary IDs, or longer (25+) for extremely high-volume systems.
Can I use Nano ID in databases?
Yes, Nano ID is excellent for database primary keys. It's shorter than UUID, easier to index, and maintains the same level of uniqueness. Many modern applications use Nano ID as their primary identifier.
Is Nano ID URL-safe?
Yes, the default alphabet uses only URL-safe characters (A-Za-z0-9_-), making Nano IDs perfect for URLs, file names, and any context where special characters might cause issues.