hashids
Python library for generating YouTube-like IDs from numbers.
Pricing
Free tier
Flat rate
Adoption
↘CoolingLicense
Open Source
Data freshness
Aging · Jun 8, 2026Overview
What is hashids?
Hashids is a Python implementation of the hashids algorithm that generates short, unique, non-sequential IDs from integers. It's useful for obfuscating database keys and creating user-friendly URLs.
Key differentiator
“Hashids offers a simple, lightweight solution for generating obfuscated IDs in Python, making it ideal for developers who need to create secure and user-friendly identifiers without complex setup.”
Capability profile
Capability Radar
Honest assessment
Strengths & Weaknesses
↑ Strengths
↓ Weaknesses
Primary implementation is in Python, which may not be suitable for projects using other languages.
Hash generation can become slow when dealing with a very large number of IDs, impacting real-time applications.
Customizing alphabet and salt requires careful configuration to ensure uniqueness and security, which can be error-prone.
The project has a relatively small user base compared to more popular ID generation libraries, leading to fewer contributions and slower issue resolution.
Fit analysis
Who is it for?
✓ Best for
Developers needing to create short, unique IDs from integers for user-friendly URLs
Projects requiring obfuscation of database keys for security reasons
✕ Not a fit for
Applications that require real-time ID generation and processing at scale
Use cases where the length of generated IDs is critical (very short IDs)
Cost structure
Pricing
Free Tier
Available
Open source — free to use
Starts at
$0
Model
Flat rate
Enterprise
None
Performance benchmarks
How Fast Is It?
Ecosystem
Relationships
Works well with
Integrations
Next step
Get Started with hashids
Step-by-step setup guide with code examples and common gotchas.