What is a short ID?

A short ID is a compact random string built from a chosen alphabet. Compared with longer identifiers like UUIDs, short IDs are easier to read, copy, and include in URLs or test data.

The tradeoff is that the alphabet and length need to be chosen carefully so the output stays unique enough for your use case.

Tool description

This tool generates one or many short IDs with configurable size, quantity, preset alphabet, and custom alphabet input. It uses a nanoid-style approach to produce compact identifiers.

It is useful for quick fixture generation, temporary IDs, and any workflow that needs a short random token.

Examples

  • A default preset ID
  • A custom alphabet ID without visually similar characters
  • A batch of IDs for test records

Features

  • Multiple preset alphabets
  • Custom-alphabet mode with duplicate-character removal
  • Downloadable plain-text output

Limitations

Custom alphabets cannot be empty, and the tool clamps size and quantity to safe values.

The default preset uses nanoid’s built-in alphabet rather than a custom character set.