nanoid vs randomatic vs shortid vs randomstring
Unique ID Generation Libraries Comparison
1 Year
nanoidrandomaticshortidrandomstringSimilar Packages:
What's Unique ID Generation Libraries?

Unique ID generation libraries are essential tools in web development for creating unique identifiers for various purposes, such as database keys, session tokens, or any scenario where a unique string is required. These libraries provide different algorithms and methods for generating IDs, each with its own strengths and use cases. The choice of library can significantly impact the performance, security, and usability of the application, especially in environments where uniqueness and speed are critical.

Package Weekly Downloads Trend
Github Stars Ranking
Stat Detail
Package
Downloads
Stars
Size
Issues
Publish
License
nanoid59,162,41725,63812.1 kB32 months agoMIT
randomatic2,052,295183-77 years agoMIT
shortid914,0575,73821.7 kB164 months agoMIT
randomstring837,71852316.6 kB24 months agoMIT
Feature Comparison: nanoid vs randomatic vs shortid vs randomstring

Performance

  • nanoid:

    Nanoid is designed for high performance, generating IDs faster than many alternatives. It uses a cryptographically secure random generator, ensuring that the IDs are not only unique but also generated quickly, making it suitable for applications with high ID generation demands.

  • randomatic:

    Randomatic's performance is generally good, but it may not match the speed of Nanoid for high-volume ID generation. It is more focused on flexibility and customization, which can introduce some overhead depending on the complexity of the generated strings.

  • shortid:

    Shortid provides good performance for generating short, unique IDs. Its focus on human-readable strings may introduce slight overhead, but it is still efficient for most use cases.

  • randomstring:

    Randomstring is lightweight and performs well for generating random strings. However, it may not be as fast as Nanoid when generating a large number of IDs in a short period, as it lacks the optimizations found in more specialized libraries.

Security

  • nanoid:

    Nanoid offers strong security features, utilizing a cryptographically secure random number generator. This makes it suitable for generating tokens or identifiers that need to be unpredictable and secure against guessing attacks.

  • randomatic:

    Randomatic does not focus heavily on security, as it is more about generating random strings than unique IDs. While it can create unique identifiers, it may not be suitable for security-sensitive applications without additional measures.

  • shortid:

    Shortid provides basic uniqueness but does not guarantee cryptographic security. It is best used for non-sensitive applications where human readability is prioritized over security.

  • randomstring:

    Randomstring lacks built-in security features and should not be used for generating sensitive tokens or identifiers. It is primarily for generating random strings without a focus on uniqueness or security.

Customization

  • nanoid:

    Nanoid allows for some customization in terms of the length of the generated IDs and the character set used. However, it is primarily focused on generating unique IDs rather than random strings with varied formats.

  • randomatic:

    Randomatic excels in customization, allowing users to specify the length, character set, and format of the generated strings. This makes it highly versatile for various use cases, from passwords to unique identifiers.

  • shortid:

    Shortid offers limited customization, primarily focusing on generating short, unique IDs. It does not provide options for character sets or lengths beyond its built-in functionality.

  • randomstring:

    Randomstring provides basic customization for length but does not support character set variations. It is straightforward and easy to use, making it suitable for quick implementations without complex requirements.

Ease of Use

  • nanoid:

    Nanoid has a simple API that is easy to integrate into projects. Its documentation is clear, making it accessible for developers of all skill levels. The focus on performance does not compromise usability.

  • randomatic:

    Randomatic is also user-friendly, with a straightforward API that allows developers to quickly generate random strings. Its flexibility can be a double-edged sword, as more options may require a bit more understanding of its capabilities.

  • shortid:

    Shortid is easy to use, with a simple method for generating short IDs. Its focus on human-readable identifiers makes it intuitive for developers looking to create user-friendly URLs or identifiers.

  • randomstring:

    Randomstring is one of the simplest libraries to use, with a minimalistic API that requires little setup. It is ideal for developers who need quick and easy random string generation without additional complexity.

Use Cases

  • nanoid:

    Nanoid is best suited for applications requiring high-speed unique ID generation, such as databases, session tokens, and any scenario where uniqueness and performance are critical. Its cryptographic features make it ideal for security-sensitive applications.

  • randomatic:

    Randomatic is versatile and can be used for generating unique IDs, passwords, and other random strings. Its customization options make it suitable for a wide range of applications, from web development to security.

  • shortid:

    Shortid is ideal for generating short, user-friendly IDs for URLs, database keys, or any application where readability is important. It is particularly useful in scenarios where IDs need to be shared or typed by users.

  • randomstring:

    Randomstring is perfect for simple use cases where random strings are needed, such as generating temporary passwords or unique identifiers for non-critical applications. It is best for quick implementations without complex requirements.

How to Choose: nanoid vs randomatic vs shortid vs randomstring
  • nanoid:

    Choose Nanoid for its high performance and small size. It generates unique IDs that are URL-friendly and suitable for high-throughput applications. Its cryptographic security makes it ideal for generating tokens or identifiers that require a level of unpredictability.

  • randomatic:

    Choose Randomatic if you need a versatile library that can generate not only unique IDs but also random strings of various formats. It allows for customization of length and character sets, making it suitable for generating passwords or other random data.

  • shortid:

    Choose Shortid if you need a compact, human-readable unique ID generator. It is particularly useful for creating short IDs that are easy to read and type, making it suitable for URLs or user-facing identifiers.

  • randomstring:

    Choose Randomstring for its simplicity and ease of use. It is straightforward for generating random strings of a specified length and is particularly useful for quick implementations where advanced features are not necessary.

README for nanoid

Nano ID

Nano ID logo by Anton Lovchikov

English | Русский | 简体中文 | Bahasa Indonesia

A tiny, secure, URL-friendly, unique string ID generator for JavaScript.

“An amazing level of senseless perfectionism, which is simply impossible not to respect.”

  • Small. 118 bytes (minified and brotlied). No dependencies. Size Limit controls the size.
  • Safe. It uses hardware random generator. Can be used in clusters.
  • Short IDs. It uses a larger alphabet than UUID (A-Za-z0-9_-). So ID size was reduced from 36 to 21 symbols.
  • Portable. Nano ID was ported to over 20 programming languages.
import { nanoid } from 'nanoid'
model.id = nanoid() //=> "V1StGXR8_Z5jdHi6B-myT"

  Made at Evil Martians, product consulting for developer tools.


Docs

Read full docs here.