---
title: names
sidebarTitle: names
---

# `prefect.utilities.names`

## Functions

### `generate_slug` <sup><a href="https://github.com/PrefectHQ/prefect/blob/main/src/prefect/utilities/names.py#L29" target="_blank"><Icon icon="github" style="width: 14px; height: 14px;" /></a></sup>

```python
generate_slug(n_words: int) -> str
```


Generates a random slug.

**Args:**
- `- n_words`: the number of words in the slug


### `obfuscate` <sup><a href="https://github.com/PrefectHQ/prefect/blob/main/src/prefect/utilities/names.py#L45" target="_blank"><Icon icon="github" style="width: 14px; height: 14px;" /></a></sup>

```python
obfuscate(s: Any, show_tail: bool = False) -> str
```


Obfuscates any data type's string representation. See `obfuscate_string`.


### `obfuscate_string` <sup><a href="https://github.com/PrefectHQ/prefect/blob/main/src/prefect/utilities/names.py#L55" target="_blank"><Icon icon="github" style="width: 14px; height: 14px;" /></a></sup>

```python
obfuscate_string(s: str, show_tail: bool = False) -> str
```


Obfuscates a string by returning a new string of 8 characters. If the input
string is longer than 10 characters and show_tail is True, then up to 4 of
its final characters will become final characters of the obfuscated string;
all other characters are "*".

"abc"      -> "********"
"abcdefgh" -> "********"
"abcdefghijk" -> "*******k"
"abcdefghijklmnopqrs" -> "****pqrs"

