Generate UUIDs in Node.js Without the uuid Package

Problem

Every project that needs UUIDs pulls in the uuid package. Adding an external dependency just for UUID v4 generation feels unnecessary.

npm install uuid

const { v4: uuidv4 } = require('uuid');
const id = uuidv4();

Solution

Since Node.js 19 (and LTS 20+), crypto.randomUUID() is available globally. No package install needed.

// Node.js 19+ / all modern browsers
const id = crypto.randomUUID();
// 'a1b2c3d4-e5f6-4a7b-8c9d-0e1f2a3b4c5d'

No require needed — crypto is on the global object.

For older versions (Node 14.17–18), you need the require:

// Node 14.17 – 18
const { randomUUID } = require('crypto');
const id = randomUUID();

Works in browsers too:

// All modern browsers
const id = self.crypto.randomUUID();

A compatibility helper if you need one:

function generateUUID() {
  // Global crypto (Node 19+ / browsers)
  if (typeof crypto !== 'undefined' && crypto.randomUUID) {
    return crypto.randomUUID();
  }
  // Node 14.17+
  return require('crypto').randomUUID();
}

Key Points

• crypto.randomUUID() generates RFC 4122 compliant UUID v4 — identical output to the uuid package
• Available globally on Node.js 20 LTS and above — zero external dependencies
• Supported in all modern browsers, so you can use the same approach across your full stack