diff --git a/lib/symboldatabase.cpp b/lib/symboldatabase.cpp
index 1e30bec9d21..2519c703b9f 100644
--- a/lib/symboldatabase.cpp
+++ b/lib/symboldatabase.cpp
@@ -4043,7 +4043,7 @@ void SymbolDatabase::printXml(std::ostream &out) const
     for (std::list<Scope>::const_iterator scope = scopeList.cbegin(); scope != scopeList.cend(); ++scope) {
         outs += "    <scope";
         outs += " id=\"";
-        outs += ptr_to_string(&*scope);
+        outs += id_string(&*scope);
         outs += "\"";
         outs += " type=\"";
         outs += scopeTypeToString(scope->type);
@@ -4055,27 +4055,27 @@ void SymbolDatabase::printXml(std::ostream &out) const
         }
         if (scope->bodyStart) {
             outs += " bodyStart=\"";
-            outs += ptr_to_string(scope->bodyStart);
+            outs += id_string(scope->bodyStart);
             outs += '\"';
         }
         if (scope->bodyEnd) {
             outs += " bodyEnd=\"";
-            outs += ptr_to_string(scope->bodyEnd);
+            outs += id_string(scope->bodyEnd);
             outs += '\"';
         }
         if (scope->nestedIn) {
             outs += " nestedIn=\"";
-            outs += ptr_to_string(scope->nestedIn);
+            outs += id_string(scope->nestedIn);
             outs += "\"";
         }
         if (scope->function) {
             outs += " function=\"";
-            outs += ptr_to_string(scope->function);
+            outs += id_string(scope->function);
             outs += "\"";
         }
         if (scope->definedType) {
             outs += " definedType=\"";
-            outs += ptr_to_string(scope->definedType);
+            outs += id_string(scope->definedType);
             outs += "\"";
         }
         if (scope->functionList.empty() && scope->varlist.empty())
@@ -4086,11 +4086,11 @@ void SymbolDatabase::printXml(std::ostream &out) const
                 outs += "      <functionList>\n";
                 for (std::list<Function>::const_iterator function = scope->functionList.cbegin(); function != scope->functionList.cend(); ++function) {
                     outs += "        <function id=\"";
-                    outs += ptr_to_string(&*function);
+                    outs += id_string(&*function);
                     outs += "\" token=\"";
-                    outs += ptr_to_string(function->token);
+                    outs += id_string(function->token);
                     outs += "\" tokenDef=\"";
-                    outs += ptr_to_string(function->tokenDef);
+                    outs += id_string(function->tokenDef);
                     outs += "\" name=\"";
                     outs += ErrorLogger::toxml(function->name());
                     outs += '\"';
@@ -4123,7 +4123,7 @@ void SymbolDatabase::printXml(std::ostream &out) const
                         outs += " isAttributeNoreturn=\"true\"";
                     if (const Function* overriddenFunction = function->getOverriddenFunction()) {
                         outs += " overriddenFunction=\"";
-                        outs += ptr_to_string(overriddenFunction);
+                        outs += id_string(overriddenFunction);
                         outs += "\"";
                     }
                     if (function->argCount() == 0U)
@@ -4135,7 +4135,7 @@ void SymbolDatabase::printXml(std::ostream &out) const
                             outs += "          <arg nr=\"";
                             outs += std::to_string(argnr+1);
                             outs += "\" variable=\"";
-                            outs += ptr_to_string(arg);
+                            outs += id_string(arg);
                             outs += "\"/>\n";
                             variables.insert(arg);
                         }
@@ -4148,7 +4148,7 @@ void SymbolDatabase::printXml(std::ostream &out) const
                 outs += "      <varlist>\n";
                 for (std::list<Variable>::const_iterator var = scope->varlist.cbegin(); var != scope->varlist.cend(); ++var) {
                     outs += "        <var id=\"";
-                    outs += ptr_to_string(&*var);
+                    outs += id_string(&*var);
                     outs += "\"/>\n";
                 }
                 outs += "      </varlist>\n";
@@ -4162,9 +4162,9 @@ void SymbolDatabase::printXml(std::ostream &out) const
         outs += "  <types>\n";
         for (const Type& type:typeList) {
             outs += "    <type id=\"";
-            outs += ptr_to_string(&type);
+            outs += id_string(&type);
             outs += "\" classScope=\"";
-            outs += ptr_to_string(type.classScope);
+            outs += id_string(type.classScope);
             outs += "\"";
             if (type.derivedFrom.empty()) {
                 outs += "/>\n";
@@ -4177,13 +4177,13 @@ void SymbolDatabase::printXml(std::ostream &out) const
                 outs += accessControlToString(baseInfo.access);
                 outs += "\"";
                 outs += " type=\"";
-                outs += ptr_to_string(baseInfo.type);
+                outs += id_string(baseInfo.type);
                 outs += "\"";
                 outs += " isVirtual=\"";
                 outs += bool_to_string(baseInfo.isVirtual);
                 outs += "\"";
                 outs += " nameTok=\"";
-                outs += ptr_to_string(baseInfo.nameTok);
+                outs += id_string(baseInfo.nameTok);
                 outs += "\"";
                 outs += "/>\n";
             }
@@ -4200,22 +4200,22 @@ void SymbolDatabase::printXml(std::ostream &out) const
         if (!var)
             continue;
         outs += "    <var id=\"";
-        outs += ptr_to_string(var);
+        outs += id_string(var);
         outs += '\"';
         outs += " nameToken=\"";
-        outs += ptr_to_string(var->nameToken());
+        outs += id_string(var->nameToken());
         outs += '\"';
         outs += " typeStartToken=\"";
-        outs += ptr_to_string(var->typeStartToken());
+        outs += id_string(var->typeStartToken());
         outs += '\"';
         outs += " typeEndToken=\"";
-        outs += ptr_to_string(var->typeEndToken());
+        outs += id_string(var->typeEndToken());
         outs += '\"';
         outs += " access=\"";
         outs += accessControlToString(var->mAccess);
         outs += '\"';
         outs += " scope=\"";
-        outs += ptr_to_string(var->scope());
+        outs += id_string(var->scope());
         outs += '\"';
         if (var->valueType()) {
             outs += " constness=\"";
@@ -7587,7 +7587,7 @@ std::string ValueType::dump() const
     case CONTAINER: {
         ret += "valueType-type=\"container\"";
         ret += " valueType-containerId=\"";
-        ret += ptr_to_string(container);
+        ret += id_string(container);
         ret += "\"";
         break;
     }
@@ -7670,7 +7670,7 @@ std::string ValueType::dump() const
 
     if (typeScope) {
         ret += " valueType-typeScope=\"";
-        ret += ptr_to_string(typeScope);
+        ret += id_string(typeScope);
         ret += '\"';
     }
 
diff --git a/lib/token.cpp b/lib/token.cpp
index 0a8524f1681..0ad96387d61 100644
--- a/lib/token.cpp
+++ b/lib/token.cpp
@@ -1710,7 +1710,7 @@ void Token::printValueFlow(bool xml, std::ostream &out) const
             continue;
         if (xml) {
             outs += "    <values id=\"";
-            outs += ptr_to_string(values);
+            outs += id_string(values);
             outs +=  "\">";
             outs += '\n';
         }
@@ -1763,7 +1763,7 @@ void Token::printValueFlow(bool xml, std::ostream &out) const
                     break;
                 case ValueFlow::Value::ValueType::TOK:
                     outs +=  "tokvalue=\"";
-                    outs += ptr_to_string(value.tokvalue);
+                    outs += id_string(value.tokvalue);
                     outs += '\"';
                     break;
                 case ValueFlow::Value::ValueType::FLOAT:
@@ -1801,7 +1801,7 @@ void Token::printValueFlow(bool xml, std::ostream &out) const
                     break;
                 case ValueFlow::Value::ValueType::LIFETIME:
                     outs += "lifetime=\"";
-                    outs += ptr_to_string(value.tokvalue);
+                    outs += id_string(value.tokvalue);
                     outs += '\"';
                     outs += " lifetime-scope=\"";
                     outs += ValueFlow::Value::toString(value.lifetimeScope);
@@ -1812,7 +1812,7 @@ void Token::printValueFlow(bool xml, std::ostream &out) const
                     break;
                 case ValueFlow::Value::ValueType::SYMBOLIC:
                     outs += "symbolic=\"";
-                    outs += ptr_to_string(value.tokvalue);
+                    outs += id_string(value.tokvalue);
                     outs += '\"';
                     outs += " symbolic-delta=\"";
                     outs += std::to_string(value.intvalue);
diff --git a/lib/tokenize.cpp b/lib/tokenize.cpp
index 81fe6abba57..cc4f3cfa015 100644
--- a/lib/tokenize.cpp
+++ b/lib/tokenize.cpp
@@ -5806,7 +5806,7 @@ void Tokenizer::dump(std::ostream &out) const
     outs += '\n';
     for (const Token *tok = list.front(); tok; tok = tok->next()) {
         outs += "    <token id=\"";
-        outs += ptr_to_string(tok);
+        outs += id_string(tok);
         outs += "\" file=\"";
         outs += ErrorLogger::toxml(list.file(tok));
         outs += "\" linenr=\"";
@@ -5820,7 +5820,7 @@ void Tokenizer::dump(std::ostream &out) const
         outs += '\"';
 
         outs += " scope=\"";
-        outs += ptr_to_string(tok->scope());
+        outs += id_string(tok->scope());
         outs += '\"';
         if (tok->isName()) {
             outs += " type=\"name\"";
@@ -5880,7 +5880,7 @@ void Tokenizer::dump(std::ostream &out) const
             outs += " isAttributeExport=\"true\"";
         if (tok->link()) {
             outs += " link=\"";
-            outs += ptr_to_string(tok->link());
+            outs += id_string(tok->link());
             outs += '\"';
         }
         if (tok->varId() > 0) {
@@ -5895,37 +5895,37 @@ void Tokenizer::dump(std::ostream &out) const
         }
         if (tok->variable()) {
             outs += " variable=\"";
-            outs += ptr_to_string(tok->variable());
+            outs += id_string(tok->variable());
             outs += '\"';
         }
         if (tok->function()) {
             outs += " function=\"";
-            outs += ptr_to_string(tok->function());
+            outs += id_string(tok->function());
             outs += '\"';
         }
         if (!tok->values().empty()) {
             outs += " values=\"";
-            outs += ptr_to_string(&tok->values());
+            outs += id_string(&tok->values());
             outs += '\"';
         }
         if (tok->type()) {
             outs += " type-scope=\"";
-            outs += ptr_to_string(tok->type()->classScope);
+            outs += id_string(tok->type()->classScope);
             outs += '\"';
         }
         if (tok->astParent()) {
             outs += " astParent=\"";
-            outs += ptr_to_string(tok->astParent());
+            outs += id_string(tok->astParent());
             outs += '\"';
         }
         if (tok->astOperand1()) {
             outs += " astOperand1=\"";
-            outs += ptr_to_string(tok->astOperand1());
+            outs += id_string(tok->astOperand1());
             outs += '\"';
         }
         if (tok->astOperand2()) {
             outs += " astOperand2=\"";
-            outs += ptr_to_string(tok->astOperand2());
+            outs += id_string(tok->astOperand2());
             outs += '\"';
         }
         if (!tok->originalName().empty()) {
@@ -5963,7 +5963,7 @@ void Tokenizer::dump(std::ostream &out) const
         outs += '\n';
         for (const Library::Container* c: containers) {
             outs += "    <container id=\"";
-            outs += ptr_to_string(c);
+            outs += id_string(c);
             outs += "\" array-like-index-op=\"";
             outs += (c->arrayLike_indexOp ? "true" : "false");
             outs += "\" ";
diff --git a/lib/utils.h b/lib/utils.h
index 3f53f6fbc46..46ee7d69861 100644
--- a/lib/utils.h
+++ b/lib/utils.h
@@ -270,34 +270,26 @@ std::size_t getArrayLength(const T (& /*unused*/)[size])
     return size;
 }
 
-/** this is meant as a replacement for when we cannot print a pointer via the stream insertion operator (operator<<) for performance reasons */
-// TODO: should give portable value / only used by Tokenizer::dump() and underlying functions - something deterministic would also help with comparing the output
-static inline std::string ptr_to_string(const void* p)
+/**
+ * @brief get id string. i.e. for dump files
+ * it will be a hexadecimal output.
+ */
+static inline std::string id_string_i(std::uintptr_t l)
 {
-#if (defined(__APPLE__) && defined(__MACH__))
-    if (p == nullptr)
-        return "0x0";
-#elif !defined(_WIN32) || defined(__MINGW32__)
-    if (p == nullptr)
+    if (!l)
         return "0";
-#endif
 
     static constexpr int ptr_size = sizeof(void*);
 
-#if defined(_WIN32) && !defined(__MINGW32__)
     // two characters of each byte / contains terminating \0
     static constexpr int buf_size = (ptr_size * 2) + 1;
-#else
-    // two characters of each byte / contains 0x prefix and contains terminating \0
-    static constexpr int buf_size = (ptr_size * 2) + 2 + 1;
-#endif
+
     char buf[buf_size];
 
     // needs to be signed so we don't underflow in padding loop
-    int idx = sizeof(buf) - 1;
-    buf[idx--] = '\0'; // terminate string
+    int idx = buf_size - 1;
+    buf[idx] = '\0';
 
-    uintptr_t l = reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(p);
     while (l != 0)
     {
         char c;
@@ -307,34 +299,19 @@ static inline std::string ptr_to_string(const void* p)
             c = '0' + temp;
         }
         else {
-#if !defined(_WIN32) || defined(__MINGW32__)
             // a-f
             c = 'a' + (temp - 10);
-#else
-            // A-F
-            c = 'A' + (temp - 10);
-#endif
         }
-        buf[idx--] = c; // store in reverse order
+        buf[--idx] = c; // store in reverse order
         l = l / 16;
     }
 
-#if defined(_WIN32) && !defined(__MINGW32__)
-    // pad address with 0
-    while (idx >= 0) {
-        buf[idx--] = '0';
-    }
-
-    // 000000F0A61FF122 or 0230FB33
-    return buf;
-#else
-    // add 0x prefix
-    buf[idx--] = 'x';
-    buf[idx--] = '0';
+    return &buf[idx];
+}
 
-    // 0x7ffc5aa334d8
-    return &buf[idx+1];
-#endif
+static inline std::string id_string(const void* p)
+{
+    return id_string_i(reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(p));
 }
 
 static inline std::string bool_to_string(bool b)
diff --git a/test/testutils.cpp b/test/testutils.cpp
index b4c143441a8..bdc095f54a0 100644
--- a/test/testutils.cpp
+++ b/test/testutils.cpp
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ class TestUtils : public TestFixture {
         TEST_CASE(isStringLiteral);
         TEST_CASE(isCharLiteral);
         TEST_CASE(strToInt);
-        TEST_CASE(ptrToString);
+        TEST_CASE(id_string);
     }
 
     void isValidGlobPattern() const {
@@ -334,55 +334,15 @@ class TestUtils : public TestFixture {
         }
     }
 
-    void ptrToString() const
+    void id_string() const
     {
-        struct Dummy {};
-        // stack address
-        {
-            const Dummy d;
-            const Dummy* const dp = &d;
-            std::ostringstream oss;
-            oss << dp;
-            ASSERT_EQUALS(oss.str(), ptr_to_string(dp));
-        }
-        // highest address
-        {
-            // NOLINTNEXTLINE(performance-no-int-to-ptr)
-            const void* const p = reinterpret_cast<void*>(std::numeric_limits<uintptr_t>::max());
-            std::ostringstream oss;
-            oss << p;
-            ASSERT_EQUALS(oss.str(), ptr_to_string(p));
-        }
-        // same in-between address
-        {
-            const Dummy d;
-            const Dummy* dp = &d;
-            dp = dp - ((unsigned long long)dp / 2);
-            std::ostringstream oss;
-            oss << dp;
-            ASSERT_EQUALS(oss.str(), ptr_to_string(dp));
-        }
-        // lowest address
-        {
-            // NOLINTNEXTLINE(performance-no-int-to-ptr)
-            const void* const p = reinterpret_cast<void*>(std::numeric_limits<uintptr_t>::min() + 1);
-            std::ostringstream oss;
-            oss << p;
-            ASSERT_EQUALS(oss.str(), ptr_to_string(p));
-        }
-        // heap address
-        {
-            const auto dp = std::unique_ptr<Dummy>(new Dummy);
-            std::ostringstream oss;
-            oss << dp.get();
-            ASSERT_EQUALS(oss.str(), ptr_to_string(dp.get()));
-        }
-        // NULL pointer
-        {
-            const Dummy* const dp = nullptr;
-            std::ostringstream oss;
-            oss << dp;
-            ASSERT_EQUALS(oss.str(), ptr_to_string(dp));
+        ASSERT_EQUALS("0", id_string_i(0));
+        ASSERT_EQUALS("f1", id_string_i(0xF1));
+        ASSERT_EQUALS("123", id_string_i(0x123));
+        ASSERT_EQUALS("1230", id_string_i(0x1230));
+        ASSERT_EQUALS(std::string(8,'f'), id_string_i(0xffffffffU));
+        if (sizeof(void*) == 8) {
+            ASSERT_EQUALS(std::string(16,'f'), id_string_i(~0ULL));
         }
     }
 };