Search code examples
javascriptfunctionuuid

Explanation of syntax on GUID / UUID Function in JavaScript


I am quite new to JS and was going over the code for generating a GUID / UUID.

This is the code I found in this Stackoverflow question

function uuidv4() {
  return 'xxxxxxxx-xxxx-4xxx-yxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx'.replace(/[xy]/g, function(c) {
    var r = Math.random() * 16 | 0, v = c == 'x' ? r : (r & 0x3 | 0x8);
    return v.toString(16);
  });
}

console.log(uuidv4());

What I am having trouble with is understanding this syntax:

var r = Math.random() * 16 | 0, v = c == 'x' ? r : (r & 0x3 | 0x8);

Can someone help me by explaining step by step what it does?

Your support is much appreciated.

Regards


Solution

  • var r = Math.random() * 16 | 0, v = c == 'x' ? r : (r & 0x3 | 0x8);
    

    is the same as

    var r = Math.random() * 16 | 0;
    

    ie, create a random number in the range from 0-15 (or 0-f in hex) without decimal places. You could also write this line as

    var r = Math.floor(Math.random() * 16) 
    

    but | 0 is probably faster ... And

    var v = c == 'x' ? r : (r & 0x3 | 0x8);
    

    ie, depending on the value of the current character to replace (ie 'x' or 'y') use either r or r | 0x3 | 0x8 as value for the current place. The latter is because of specification of UUID version 4, that certain bits must have certain values. See specs for details.

    You can rewrite this line as follows

    var v = 0;
    if (c == 'x') v = r;
    else v = r & 0x3 | 0x8 
    

    So v is still a value between 0 and 15, which is than converted to a hex char (0 - f) with v.toString(16)