unique

Unique generates IDs, that is all. The IDs that are generated have the following properties.

• Portable - Unique generates String IDs so they can be used anywhere.
• Compact - Unique Base64 encodes IDs to minimize wasted space.
• Timely - Unique includes a timestamp to the millisecond in its IDs.
• Orderly - Unique IDs are lexicographically ordered by time.
• Random - Unique includes 122 random bits in its IDs.

Definition: base64(bin(hex(now()) + uuidV4()))

Where:

• now() returns an integer representing milliseconds since epoch
• uuidV4() returns a 32 character hex string (no dashes)

API

unique([ts]) - Generates a new id.

ts: Date (Optional)

• Description: A date representing the timestamp you want encoded into your ID.
• Default: Now.

unique.getTimestamp(id) - Returns the timestamp encoded in the given id.

id: String

• Description: An id to extract the timestamp from.