# Snowflake ID

> unique identifier format used by various platforms

**Wikidata**: [Q104889222](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q104889222)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowflake_ID)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/snowflake-id

## Summary  
Snowflake ID is a unique identifier format designed for distributed computing systems, enabling the generation of distinct IDs across multiple machines or services. Developed by Twitter and released as free software under the Apache License 2.0, it is widely adopted by platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Discord, and Instagram. Its 64-bit structure ensures scalability and uniqueness by combining timestamp, machine ID, and sequence number.  

## Key Facts  
- **Creator**: Developed by Twitter, first released in 2010.  
- **License**: Distributed under the Apache Software License 2.0.  
- **Structure**: 64-bit format comprising a 41-bit timestamp, 10-bit machine ID, and 12-bit sequence number.  
- **Adoption**: Used by X, Discord, Instagram, and other platforms for unique identification.  
- **Versioning**: Version 2010 was released on May 29, 2014.  
- **Differentiation**: Distinct from Time-Sorted ID due to its distributed generation mechanism.  

## FAQs  
### Q: What platforms use Snowflake ID?  
A: Snowflake ID is used by X (formerly Twitter), Discord, Instagram, and other services requiring unique identifiers in distributed systems.  

### Q: How is a Snowflake ID structured?  
A: It is a 64-bit number divided into a 41-bit timestamp (milliseconds since epoch), a 10-bit machine ID (identifying the generating server), and a 12-bit sequence number (for concurrent requests).  

### Q: Why was Snowflake ID created?  
A: It solves the challenge of generating unique, sortable IDs at scale in distributed environments, ensuring no collisions across services or machines.  

## Why It Matters  
Snowflake ID is significant for enabling efficient, decentralized ID generation in large-scale systems. By embedding timestamp and machine data directly into the ID, it allows for both uniqueness and chronological sorting, critical for applications like social media posts or messaging. Its open-source nature and adoption by major platforms underscore its reliability and adaptability, addressing a core challenge in distributed computing while remaining accessible for customization.  

## Notable For  
- **Unique Structure**: Combines timestamp, machine ID, and sequence number into a single 64-bit integer.  
- **Open-Source**: Freely available under the Apache License 2.0, fostering widespread adoption and community contributions.  
- **Scalability**: Designed to avoid collisions even in high-traffic distributed systems.  
- **Distinguishing Trait**: Differs from sequential or single-machine ID systems by decentralizing generation.  

## Body  
### Overview  
Snowflake ID is a decentralized unique identifier format developed by Twitter to address the challenges of generating sortable, unique IDs in distributed systems. It is released as free software under the Apache License 2.0 and is maintained in a public GitHub repository.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Data Size**: 64-bit integer.  
- **Format**: `[0-9]{1,20}` (represented as a numeric string).  
- **Components**:  
  - **Timestamp**: 41-bit Unix timestamp in milliseconds (valid until approximately 2035).  
  - **Machine ID**: 10-bit identifier for the generating server.  
  - **Sequence Number**: 12-bit counter for requests generated in the same millisecond.  

### History  
- **Initial Release**: Version 2010 was published on May 29, 2014.  
- **Creator**: Developed by Twitter to support scalable ID generation across its infrastructure.  

### Adoption  
- **Platforms**: Used by X, Discord, Instagram, and others for message, post, and user IDs.  
- **Use Case**: Ensures uniqueness and chronological sorting in distributed environments.  

### Licensing and Accessibility  
- **License**: Apache Software License 2.0.  
- **Repository**: Source code hosted on GitHub at [https://github.com/twitter-archive/snowflake](https://github.com/twitter-archive/snowflake).  

### Distinctive Features  
- **Decentralized Generation**: IDs can be generated independently across machines without coordination.  
- **Sortability**: Embedded timestamp allows IDs to be sorted chronologically.  
- **Collision Resistance**: Combination of timestamp, machine ID, and sequence number minimizes duplication risks.

## References

1. [Release 2010. 2014](https://github.com/twitter-archive/snowflake/releases/tag/snowflake-2010)
2. [Source](https://api.github.com/repos/twitter-archive/snowflake)