CSV

CSV (Comma-Separated Values) is a simple, plain-text file format used to store tabular data, such as spreadsheets or databases. Each line in the file represents a row, with values separated by commas (or other delimiters like semicolons or tabs), and it is widely supported across various applications and programming languages for data exchange and storage.

Also known as: Comma-Separated Values, Comma Delimited, CSV file, Tab-Separated Values, TSV

Why learn CSV?

Developers should learn and use CSV for handling lightweight data import/export tasks, such as migrating data between systems, generating reports, or processing datasets in analytics. It is particularly useful in scenarios requiring interoperability with tools like Excel, data pipelines, or when working with structured data in a human-readable format without complex dependencies.

Learning Resources

• docs: RFC 4180 - Common Format and MIME Type for CSV Files
• docs: Python CSV Module Documentation
• tutorial: W3Schools CSV Tutorial
• docs: CSV Format Explained on Wikipedia
• course: DataCamp Course on Data Import with CSV