Global Unique Identifier

GUID:Ø A Globally Unique Identifier is a unique reference number used as an identifier in computer
    software
Ø Short for Globally Unique Identifier, a unique 128-bit number that is produced by the Windows OS     or by some Windows applications to identify a particular component, application, file, database
    entry, and/or user.
Ø For instance, a Web site may generate a GUID and assign it to a user's browser to record and track     the session. A GUID is also used in a Windows registry to identify COM DLLs. Knowing where to     look in the registry and having the correct GUID yields lot information about a COM object.
Ø Windows also identifies user accounts by a username (computer/domain and username) and
    assigns it a GUID.
Ø Some database administrators even will use GUIDs as primary key values in databases.
Ø GUIDs can be created in a number of ways, but usually they are a combination of a few unique
    settings based on specific point in time (e.g., an IP address, network MAC address, clock 
    date/time, etc.).
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