KSUID (K-Sortable Unique Identifier)

Overview

A KSUID (K-Sortable Unique Identifier) is a type of globally unique identifier used in distributed systems. It is designed to be both unique and sortable by timestamp, making it ideal for use cases where chronological ordering is important.

Structure

A KSUID is a 20-byte (160-bit) identifier consisting of two parts:

  1. Timestamp: The first 4 bytes (32 bits) represent a timestamp, specifically the number of seconds since a custom epoch (typically a recent past date). This allows for chronological sorting.
  2. Payload: The remaining 16 bytes (128 bits) are a randomly generated payload, ensuring a high level of uniqueness and collision resistance.

Features

  • Uniqueness: The 128-bit random payload provides a vast number of possible IDs, making collisions extremely unlikely.
  • Timestamp-Sortable: The 32-bit timestamp allows KSUIDs to be sorted by creation time, which is useful for time-series data and event logging.
  • Compatibility: KSUIDs can be used in place of other unique identifiers like UUIDs, offering additional benefits for certain applications.

Use Cases

  • Distributed Systems: KSUIDs are ideal for generating unique identifiers in distributed environments where coordination between nodes is minimal.
  • Time-Series Data: The sortable nature of KSUIDs makes them perfect for databases and storage systems that handle time-series data.
  • Event Logging: KSUIDs ensure events can be logged with a unique identifier that also encodes the time of occurrence.

Advantages

  • Chronological Ordering: Simplifies querying and indexing by creation time.
  • High Throughput: Efficient to generate without the need for centralized coordination.
  • Collision Resistance: The large random payload significantly reduces the likelihood of duplicate IDs.

Conclusion

KSUIDs offer a robust solution for generating unique, timestamp-sortable identifiers in distributed systems. Their design combines the benefits of uniqueness, chronological sorting, and ease of integration, making them a valuable tool for developers handling time-sensitive data and events.

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