Data FormatsverifiedReviewed 2026-08-08

CSV

Comma-Separated Values · text/csv · .csv

Overview

CSV stores rows of comma-separated values and is described in RFC 4180. It is the lowest common denominator for tabular exchange, opening directly in Excel, Google Sheets, and most analytics tools.

Typical use cases

  • Spreadsheet export
  • Data pipelines
  • Flat data exchange
  • Bank and tool exports

Advantages

  • Plain text readable by any system
  • Small files for tabular data
  • Simple to produce from databases and APIs

Disadvantages

  • No types
  • Quoting edge cases
  • Not suitable for nested data

How to open or use it

Open CSV files in Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc, a text editor, or any programming tool. Most spreadsheet apps import CSV directly with an encoding and delimiter step.

FAQ

Why do some CSV files open with wrong columns?

CSV has no standardized encoding or delimiter. Excel and other tools may expect a comma, semicolon, or tab, and the file may need an import step.

Can CSV store formulas?

No. CSV stores raw values and text. Formulas, formatting, and multiple sheets require a spreadsheet format such as XLSX.

What does CSV stand for?

Comma-separated values. The term describes rows of fields separated by commas, though other delimiters are common.

.csv - Comma-Separated Valuesdocuments
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