Introduction

GUID stands for Globally Unique Identifier.

A GUID is a unique value used to identify a record, transaction, or process.

Example:

3f2504e0-4f89-11d3-9a0c-0305e82c3301

You don't need to remember or manually create this value. Power Apps and Power Automate can generate GUIDs for you.

Why Do We Need GUID?

Imagine 100 users are using the same application and creating records at the same time.

If we use names, there can be duplicates:

Ketan

John

John

A GUID provides a unique identifier for each record:

Ketan → 3f2504e0-4f89-11d3-9a0c-0305e82c3301

John → 8a7c1e45-6f23-4c92-bf11-7e9d2a4c8b31

Even though the names are the same, the GUIDs are different.

GUID in Power Apps

Power Apps provides the GUID() function.

Create a new GUID

Set(
    varGUID,
    GUID()
)

Now varGUID contains a new GUID.

Example

Set(
    varCorrelationID,
    GUID()
);
Notify(

"Correlation ID: " & varCorrelationID,

NotificationType.Information

)

GUID in Power Automate

Power Automate provides the guid() expression.

You can use it in a Compose action:

guid()

Every time the flow runs, it can generate a new GUID.

For example:

6c4e8a17-0d92-4c61-b7f5-1a9e83d64210

Power Apps + Power Automate Example

GUIDs are very useful when Power Apps calls Power Automate.

For example, when a user clicks an Approve button:

Set(
    varCorrelationID,
    GUID()
);
ApprovalFlow.Run(
varCorrelationID,
SelectedInvoiceDetailRecord.ID,
"Approved"
)

Power Automate receives:

Correlation ID

Invoice ID

Action

The flow can save the same Correlation ID in an audit log.

Example:

Correlation ID:

6c4e8a17-0d92-4c61-b7f5-1a9e83d64210

Invoice ID:

1254

Action:

Approved

Now, if something goes wrong, you can search the audit log using the Correlation ID and trace the complete process.

GUID in Dataverse

Dataverse uses a unique identifier for each row.

For example:

InvoiceRecord ID
INV-10013f2504e0-4f89-11d3-9a0c-0305e82c3301
INV-10028a7c1e45-6f23-4c92-bf11-7e9d2a4c8b31

The user normally sees the invoice number, while Dataverse uses the unique identifier internally.

GUID in SharePoint

SharePoint normally uses a numeric ID for list items:

ID = 1254

SharePoint also has a GUID-based UniqueId.

So don't confuse:

SharePoint ID     → 1254

SharePoint UniqueId → GUID

The numeric ID is unique within the SharePoint list, while the UniqueId is a GUID.

GUID vs ID

IDGUID
12543f2504e0-4f89-11d3-9a0c-0305e82c3301
Easy to readDifficult to read
Usually system/list specificDesigned for global uniqueness
Good for user-facing numbersGood for system identification
Common in SharePointCommon in Dataverse

GUID vs Numeric ID

FeatureNumeric IDGUID
Example12546c4e8a17-0d92-4c61-b7f5-1a9e83d64210
Human-readableEasierDifficult
ScopeOften system/list specificDesigned for global uniqueness
SizeSmallLarger
Good forInternal record numberingDistributed systems/integrations
Collision riskDepends on implementationExtremely low
Common in DataverseNo, primary key is GUID-basedYes
Common in SharePointYesYes, via UniqueId

When Should We Use GUID?

GUID is useful when you need:

Simple Real-World Example

Suppose an invoice approval process looks like this:

Power Apps
    ↓
Approve Invoice
    ↓
Generate GUID
    ↓
Power Automate
    ↓
Child Flow
    ↓
Audit Log

Example:

Correlation ID:

6c4e8a17-0d92-4c61-b7f5-1a9e83d64210

The same GUID can be stored in every related log entry.

This makes it easy to answer:

Which flow executions and audit records belong to this approval request?

Conclusion

A GUID is simply a unique identifier used by applications and systems.

In Power Platform:

Power Apps       → GUID()

Power Automate → guid()

Dataverse → GUID-based record identifier

SharePoint → Numeric ID + GUID UniqueId

The easiest way to remember it is:

ID helps identify a record. GUID helps provide a highly unique identifier that can be safely used across systems and processes.