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Definition: GUID (Globally Unique Identifier)

A GUID (Globally Unique Identifier) is a standard 128-bit number used to create unique identifiers for resources in computing. GUIDs are designed to be unique across space and time, meaning the probability of two different systems generating the same GUID is extremely low. They are typically represented as a 32-character hexadecimal string in a specific format (e.g., xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx).

Key Aspects in the Helix Context:

  • Purpose: Used within the MARS platform and migration processes to assign a unique, unambiguous identifier to individual records, documents, or processing jobs.
  • Tracking: Essential for maintaining data integrity during migration and reconciliation (p29), ensuring each item can be uniquely tracked through the ETL process and linked in audit logs or the MARS Watcher database (p158).