CSV file format
| Extension | .csv |
| Category | documents |
| Programs | Microsoft Excel Microsoft Works Corel Quattro Pro Apache OpenOffice LibreOffice Microsoft Notepad Libre Office MobiSystems OfficeSuite Pro 7 |
| Description | The .csv (Comma-Separated Values) format is a simple text format used to represent tabular data. Each line in the file corresponds to a row in the table, with columns separated by commas. This format is widely supported by various applications, such as spreadsheet and database software. It is commonly utilized for transferring data between different programs, as well as for exporting and importing large volumes of data due to its ease of use and high compatibility. |
| Technical details | The `.csv` (Comma-Separated Values) format is a straightforward text format used for tabular data. In this format, each line represents a row in the table, with fields separated by a delimiter. Typically, a comma is used as the delimiter, but semicolons or tabs can also be used. Being a plain text format, it is universally compatible and easy to edit. The structure of a csv file consists of rows and fields delimited by the chosen delimiter, without a standard schema. All data is treated as strings, with interpretation depending on the application importing the data. Optional headers can be included in `.csv` files, and various text encodings such as UTF-8 and ASCII are supported. When fields contain delimiters, they are usually enclosed in quotes and any internal quotation marks are escaped. Despite not being suitable for complex or relational data structures, the simplicity and flexibility of the `.csv` format make it popular for basic data exchange and import/export tasks across different programs. Its compatibility with common software, including spreadsheets and databases, ensures that it remains favored for straightforward data operations. |
| MIME type | text/comma-separated-values |