What is CSV?

Short for Comma-separated values, also sometimes called character-separated values. The CSV file stores tabular data (text and numbers) in plain-text form.

In CSV files plain text means that the file is a sequence of characters, with no data that has to be interpreted as binary numbers and each record consists of fields, separated by some other character or string, the character commonly are tab or comma.

Table File Example

Year Manufacturer Model Description Price
1998 Ford E352 acc, abs, moon 3000.00
1999 Chevy Venture "Extended Edition, Very Large" 5340.00
2009 Chevy Venture "Extended Edition" 4980.00
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee MUST air, loaded, moon roof 4799.00

The Above table in csv format will be:

Year,Manufacturer,Model,Description,Price
1998,Ford,E352,"acc, abs, moon",3000.00
1999,Chevy,"Venture ""Extended Edition, Very Large""",,5340.00
2009,Chevy,"Venture ""Extended Edition""",,4980.00
2015,Jeep,Grand Cherokee,"MUST air, loaded, moon roof",4799.00