What is CSV?
CSV (Comma-Separated Values) is a simple text format for tabular data where each line is a row and fields are separated by commas. It is universally supported by spreadsheets, databases, and data tools.
CSV has no formal standard, so quoting, delimiters, and encodings can vary. Fields containing commas or newlines are wrapped in quotes.
Key points
- Each line is a row; fields are separated by commas.
- Fields with commas or newlines are wrapped in double quotes.
- There is no formal standard, so delimiters and quoting vary.
- The first row is often, but not always, a header.
Example
name,role Ada,admin Linus,user
Common uses
- Exporting and importing spreadsheet data
- Bulk data transfer between systems
- Database dumps and reports
- Simple, human-readable datasets
Work with CSV directly in your browser.
Open the CSV ↔ JSON