diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 9ead0189c..cede27761 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -950,6 +950,14 @@ dependencies = [
  "powerfmt",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "device-metadata"
+version = "0.1.0"
+dependencies = [
+ "riot-rs",
+ "riot-rs-boards",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "diff"
 version = "0.1.13"
@@ -3607,6 +3615,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "riot-rs-boards",
  "riot-rs-debug",
  "riot-rs-embassy",
+ "riot-rs-embassy-common",
  "riot-rs-macros",
  "riot-rs-random",
  "riot-rs-rt",
@@ -3760,6 +3769,10 @@ dependencies = [
  "embassy-executor",
  "embassy-nrf",
  "embedded-hal-async",
+ "nrf52832-pac",
+ "nrf52833-pac",
+ "nrf52840-pac",
+ "nrf5340-app-pac",
  "paste",
  "portable-atomic",
  "riot-rs-debug",
diff --git a/examples/device-metadata/Cargo.toml b/examples/device-metadata/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..941693b19
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/device-metadata/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+[package]
+name = "device-metadata"
+version = "0.1.0"
+authors.workspace = true
+license.workspace = true
+edition.workspace = true
+publish = false
+
+[lints]
+workspace = true
+
+[dependencies]
+riot-rs = { path = "../../src/riot-rs" }
+riot-rs-boards = { path = "../../src/riot-rs-boards" }
diff --git a/examples/device-metadata/README.md b/examples/device-metadata/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..46c92e726
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/device-metadata/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# device-metadata
+
+## About
+
+This application prints all that a device knows
+about the device and the running program
+at startup to the debug console.
+
+## How to run
+
+In this folder, run
+
+    laze build -b nrf52840dk run
diff --git a/examples/device-metadata/laze.yml b/examples/device-metadata/laze.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2746a72b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/device-metadata/laze.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+apps:
+  - name: device-metadata
+    selects:
+      - ?release
+      - sw/threading
+    depends:
+      - debug-console
diff --git a/examples/device-metadata/src/main.rs b/examples/device-metadata/src/main.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..69b9b1699
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/device-metadata/src/main.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#![no_main]
+#![no_std]
+#![feature(used_with_arg)]
+
+use riot_rs::debug::{exit, log::*};
+
+#[riot_rs::thread(autostart)]
+fn main() {
+    info!("Available information:");
+    info!("Board type: {}", riot_rs::buildinfo::BOARD);
+    if let Ok(id) = riot_rs::identity::device_id_bytes() {
+        info!("Device ID: {=[u8]:x}", id.as_ref());
+    } else {
+        info!("Device ID is unavailable.");
+    }
+
+    exit(Ok(()));
+}
diff --git a/examples/laze.yml b/examples/laze.yml
index a69997482..261453b03 100644
--- a/examples/laze.yml
+++ b/examples/laze.yml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ subdirs:
   - blinky
   - core-sizes
   - coap
+  - device-metadata
   - embassy
   - embassy-http-server
   - embassy-net-tcp
diff --git a/src/riot-rs-embassy-common/src/identity.rs b/src/riot-rs-embassy-common/src/identity.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ae1ca7f26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/riot-rs-embassy-common/src/identity.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+//! Tools and traits for describing device identities.
+//!
+//! See `riot_rs::identity` for general documentation; that module also represents the public parts
+//! of this API.
+#![deny(missing_docs)]
+
+/// Trait describing the unique identifier available on a device.
+///
+/// See the module level documentation on the characteristics of the identifier.
+///
+/// # Evolution
+///
+/// In its current state, this type is mainly a wrapper around a binary identifier.
+///
+/// As it is used more, additional methods can be provided for concrete types of identifiers, such
+/// as MAC addresses. By default, those would be generated in some way from what is available in
+/// the identifier -- but devices where the identifier already *is* a MAC address (or possibly a
+/// range thereof) can provide their official addresses.
+pub trait DeviceId: Sized {
+    /// Some `[u8; N]` type, returned by [`.bytes()`][Self::bytes].
+    ///
+    /// This may not represent all the identifying information available on the device, but can
+    /// represent a unique portion thereof.
+    ///
+    /// (For example, if a device has two consecutive MAC addresses assigned, the type as a whole
+    /// may represent both, but the conventional serialized identity of the device may just be one
+    /// of them).
+    ///
+    /// # Evolution
+    ///
+    /// In the long run, it will be preferable to add a `const BYTES_LEN: usize;` and enforce the
+    /// type `[u8; Self::BYTES_LEN]` as the return value of [`.bytes(_)]`][Self::bytes]. This can
+    /// not be done yet as it depends on the `generic_const_exprs` feature.
+    type Bytes: AsRef<[u8]>;
+
+    /// Obtains a unique identifier of the device.
+    ///
+    /// # Errors
+    ///
+    /// This produces an error if no device ID is available on this board, or is not implemented.
+    /// It is encouraged to use [`core::convert::Infallible`] where possible.
+    fn get() -> Result<Self, impl core::error::Error>;
+
+    /// The device identifier in serialized bytes format.
+    fn bytes(&self) -> Self::Bytes;
+}
+
+/// An uninhabited type implementing [`DeviceId`] that always errs.
+///
+/// This can be used both on architectures that do not have a unique identifier on their boards,
+/// and when it has not yet been implemented.
+///
+/// Typical types for `E` are [`NotImplemented`] or [`NotAvailable`].
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct NoDeviceId<E: core::error::Error + Default>(
+    core::convert::Infallible,
+    core::marker::PhantomData<E>,
+);
+
+impl<E: core::error::Error + Default> DeviceId for NoDeviceId<E> {
+    // We could also come up with a custom never type that AsRef's into [u8], but that won't fly
+    // once there is a BYTES_LEN.
+    type Bytes = [u8; 0];
+
+    fn get() -> Result<Self, impl core::error::Error> {
+        Err::<_, E>(Default::default())
+    }
+
+    fn bytes(&self) -> [u8; 0] {
+        match self.0 {}
+    }
+}
+
+/// Error indicating that a [`DeviceId`] may be available on this device, but is not implemented.
+#[derive(Debug, Default)]
+pub struct NotImplemented;
+
+impl core::fmt::Display for NotImplemented {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut core::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> core::fmt::Result {
+        f.write_str("Device ID not implemented on this device")
+    }
+}
+
+impl core::error::Error for NotImplemented {}
+
+/// Error indicating that a [`DeviceId`] is not available on this device.
+#[derive(Debug, Default)]
+pub struct NotAvailable;
+
+impl core::fmt::Display for NotAvailable {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut core::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> core::fmt::Result {
+        f.write_str("Device ID not available on this device")
+    }
+}
+
+impl core::error::Error for NotAvailable {}
diff --git a/src/riot-rs-embassy-common/src/lib.rs b/src/riot-rs-embassy-common/src/lib.rs
index 41002b5f4..297de5bf0 100644
--- a/src/riot-rs-embassy-common/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/riot-rs-embassy-common/src/lib.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ pub mod executor_swi;
 #[cfg(feature = "i2c")]
 pub mod i2c;
 
+pub mod identity;
+
 pub mod reexports {
     //! Crate re-exports.
 
diff --git a/src/riot-rs-embassy/src/arch/mod.rs b/src/riot-rs-embassy/src/arch/mod.rs
index 32f55fa52..6ef48f082 100644
--- a/src/riot-rs-embassy/src/arch/mod.rs
+++ b/src/riot-rs-embassy/src/arch/mod.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,12 @@ pub mod hwrng;
 #[cfg(feature = "i2c")]
 pub mod i2c;
 
+pub mod identity {
+    use riot_rs_embassy_common::identity;
+
+    pub type DeviceId = identity::NoDeviceId<identity::NotImplemented>;
+}
+
 #[cfg(feature = "usb")]
 pub mod usb;
 
diff --git a/src/riot-rs-esp/src/lib.rs b/src/riot-rs-esp/src/lib.rs
index d5ee5cd9f..d2d4ca86c 100644
--- a/src/riot-rs-esp/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/riot-rs-esp/src/lib.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,12 @@ pub mod gpio;
 #[cfg(feature = "i2c")]
 pub mod i2c;
 
+pub mod identity {
+    use riot_rs_embassy_common::identity;
+
+    pub type DeviceId = identity::NoDeviceId<identity::NotImplemented>;
+}
+
 #[cfg(feature = "wifi")]
 pub mod wifi;
 
diff --git a/src/riot-rs-nrf/Cargo.toml b/src/riot-rs-nrf/Cargo.toml
index 821c0fd3c..3ea664d61 100644
--- a/src/riot-rs-nrf/Cargo.toml
+++ b/src/riot-rs-nrf/Cargo.toml
@@ -30,16 +30,20 @@ riot-rs-random = { workspace = true, optional = true }
 
 [target.'cfg(context = "nrf52832")'.dependencies]
 embassy-nrf = { workspace = true, features = ["nrf52832"] }
+nrf52832-pac = "0.12.2"
 
 [target.'cfg(context = "nrf52833")'.dependencies]
 # Disable NFC support for now, as we do not support it yet.
 embassy-nrf = { workspace = true, features = ["nfc-pins-as-gpio", "nrf52833"] }
+nrf52833-pac = "0.12.2"
 
 [target.'cfg(context = "nrf52840")'.dependencies]
 embassy-nrf = { workspace = true, features = ["nrf52840"] }
+nrf52840-pac = "0.12.2"
 
 [target.'cfg(context = "nrf5340")'.dependencies]
 embassy-nrf = { workspace = true, features = ["nrf5340-app-s"] }
+nrf5340-app-pac = "0.12.2"
 
 [features]
 ## Enables GPIO interrupt support.
diff --git a/src/riot-rs-nrf/src/identity.rs b/src/riot-rs-nrf/src/identity.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ba83b2090
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/riot-rs-nrf/src/identity.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+pub struct DeviceId(u64);
+
+impl riot_rs_embassy_common::identity::DeviceId for DeviceId {
+    #[allow(
+        refining_impl_trait_reachable,
+        reason = "Making this fallible would be a breaking API change for RIOT-rs."
+    )]
+    fn get() -> Result<Self, core::convert::Infallible> {
+        // Embassy does not wrap the FICR register, and given that all we need from there is a register
+        // read that is perfectly fine to do through a stolen register, let's do that rather than
+        // thread the access through several layers.
+
+        // SAFETY: The register is used for read-only operations on constant values.
+        #[cfg(context = "nrf52840")]
+        let ficr = unsafe { nrf52840_pac::Peripherals::steal().FICR };
+        #[cfg(context = "nrf52832")]
+        let ficr = unsafe { nrf52832_pac::Peripherals::steal().FICR };
+        #[cfg(context = "nrf52833")]
+        let ficr = unsafe { nrf52833_pac::Peripherals::steal().FICR };
+        #[cfg(context = "nrf5340")]
+        let ficr = &unsafe { nrf5340_app_pac::Peripherals::steal().FICR_S }.info;
+
+        let low = ficr.deviceid[0].read().bits();
+        let high = ficr.deviceid[1].read().bits();
+        Ok(Self((u64::from(high) << u32::BITS) | u64::from(low)))
+    }
+
+    type Bytes = [u8; 8];
+
+    fn bytes(&self) -> Self::Bytes {
+        self.0.to_le_bytes()
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/riot-rs-nrf/src/lib.rs b/src/riot-rs-nrf/src/lib.rs
index 94a139915..db8ebf1e4 100644
--- a/src/riot-rs-nrf/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/riot-rs-nrf/src/lib.rs
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ pub mod hwrng;
 #[cfg(feature = "i2c")]
 pub mod i2c;
 
+pub mod identity;
+
 #[cfg(feature = "usb")]
 pub mod usb;
 
diff --git a/src/riot-rs-rp/src/lib.rs b/src/riot-rs-rp/src/lib.rs
index bb1d5b879..ed1003b8a 100644
--- a/src/riot-rs-rp/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/riot-rs-rp/src/lib.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,12 @@ pub mod hwrng;
 #[cfg(feature = "i2c")]
 pub mod i2c;
 
+pub mod identity {
+    use riot_rs_embassy_common::identity;
+
+    pub type DeviceId = identity::NoDeviceId<identity::NotImplemented>;
+}
+
 #[cfg(feature = "usb")]
 pub mod usb;
 
diff --git a/src/riot-rs-stm32/src/identity.rs b/src/riot-rs-stm32/src/identity.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..641b32fd2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/riot-rs-stm32/src/identity.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+pub struct DeviceId(&'static [u8; 12]);
+
+impl riot_rs_embassy_common::identity::DeviceId for DeviceId {
+    type Bytes = &'static [u8; 12];
+
+    #[allow(
+        refining_impl_trait_reachable,
+        reason = "Making this fallible would be a breaking API change for RIOT-rs."
+    )]
+    fn get() -> Result<Self, core::convert::Infallible> {
+        Ok(Self(embassy_stm32::uid::uid()))
+    }
+
+    fn bytes(&self) -> Self::Bytes {
+        self.0
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/riot-rs-stm32/src/lib.rs b/src/riot-rs-stm32/src/lib.rs
index 207bd5596..7228b0512 100644
--- a/src/riot-rs-stm32/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/riot-rs-stm32/src/lib.rs
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ pub mod extint_registry;
 #[cfg(feature = "i2c")]
 pub mod i2c;
 
+pub mod identity;
+
 use embassy_stm32::Config;
 
 pub use embassy_stm32::{interrupt, peripherals, OptionalPeripherals, Peripherals};
diff --git a/src/riot-rs/Cargo.toml b/src/riot-rs/Cargo.toml
index da6ffc527..bc6c56e36 100644
--- a/src/riot-rs/Cargo.toml
+++ b/src/riot-rs/Cargo.toml
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ riot-rs-bench = { workspace = true, optional = true }
 riot-rs-boards = { path = "../riot-rs-boards" }
 riot-rs-debug = { workspace = true }
 riot-rs-embassy = { path = "../riot-rs-embassy" }
+riot-rs-embassy-common = { workspace = true }
 riot-rs-macros = { path = "../riot-rs-macros" }
 riot-rs-random = { workspace = true, optional = true }
 riot-rs-rt = { path = "../riot-rs-rt" }
diff --git a/src/riot-rs/src/identity.rs b/src/riot-rs/src/identity.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5b48cd7a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/riot-rs/src/identity.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+//! Access to unique identifiers provided by the device.
+//!
+//! This module provides [`device_id_bytes()`], which returns an identifier for the
+//! concrete piece of hardware that the software is running on in byte serialized form.
+//!
+//! Concrete properties of a device identity are:
+//!
+//! * Identifiers are reasonably unique: They are either unique by construction (serial number, MAC
+//!   address) or random identifiers (>= 64 bit).
+//!
+//! * The scope of the identifier is within a RIOT-rs board. Their scope may be broader, eg. when
+//!   a identifier is unique per MCU family, or even globally.
+//!
+//! * Identifiers do not change during regular development with a device, which includes the use of
+//!   a programmer. Identifiers may change under deliberate conditions, eg. when a device has a
+//!   one-time programmable identity, or when there is a custom functionality to overwrite the
+//!   built-in identifier that is not triggered by the device erase that is performed as part of
+//!   programming the device.
+//!
+//! Constructing an identifier fails rather than produce a dummy identifier.
+//!
+//! It is considered a breaking change in RIOT-rs if a device's identifier changes or becomes an
+//! error. Errors changing to valid identifiers is a compatible change.
+
+/// Obtains a unique identifier of the device in its byte serialized form.
+///
+/// See module level documentation for that identifier's properties.
+pub fn device_id_bytes() -> Result<impl AsRef<[u8]>, impl core::error::Error> {
+    use riot_rs_embassy_common::identity::DeviceId;
+
+    riot_rs_embassy::arch::identity::DeviceId::get().map(|d| d.bytes())
+}
diff --git a/src/riot-rs/src/lib.rs b/src/riot-rs/src/lib.rs
index e88a610cf..d51628f20 100644
--- a/src/riot-rs/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/riot-rs/src/lib.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 
 pub mod buildinfo;
 
+pub mod identity;
+
 #[cfg(feature = "bench")]
 #[doc(inline)]
 pub use riot_rs_bench as bench;