CSV File (.CSV)
CSV (Comma-Separated Values) is a plain-text tabular data format where each line represents a row and values within a row are separated by commas. It is the most universal format for exchanging structured data between different applications, databases, and programming languages. CSV files contain only raw data with no formatting, formulas, or multiple sheets.
Advantages of CSV File
What the CSV format does well, and why you might choose it.
- Universal compatibility with virtually every data application and programming language
- Human-readable plain text that can be opened in any text editor
- Extremely lightweight with no overhead beyond the data itself
Limitations of CSV File
What the CSVformat doesn't do well, and when to choose another format.
- No support for data types, formatting, formulas, or multiple sheets
- Inconsistent handling of commas within values across different parsers
- No standardized encoding, leading to potential character set issues
What CSV files are used for
- Data export and import between databases and applications
- Data science and machine learning dataset distribution
- Bulk data exchange and ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) pipelines
Convert to CSV
The most common formats people convert to CSV, ready to convert in seconds.
Convert CSV to other formats
Convert CSV File files into the format you actually need.
Frequently asked questions about CSV
What is a .CSV file?
CSV (Comma-Separated Values) is a plain-text tabular data format where each line represents a row and values within a row are separated by commas. It is the most universal format for exchanging structured data between different applications, databases, and programming languages. CSV files contain only raw data with no formatting, formulas, or multiple sheets.
What is the MIME type of CSV?
The official MIME type for CSV files is text/csv. This is the value web servers and applications use to identify the format when transferring files.
What category does CSV belong to?
CSV is a Document Converter format. Files in this category share common conversion paths and use cases.
How do I open a .CSV file?
CSV files are typically opened by software that natively supports the CSV Fileformat. If you don't have a compatible application, the most reliable approach is to convert the file to a more universal format using the converters listed above. Most CSV File files convert to widely-supported alternatives in seconds.
Have a CSV file you need to convert?
Free, instant, no signup. Files deleted within an hour of upload.
Convert CSV to MD