Compare
CSV vs JSON
CSV represents tabular records; JSON represents structured values such as objects and arrays. Choose based on the shape of the data and the receiving system.
Which format should you choose?
Use CSV for simple tables and spreadsheet workflows; use JSON for nested data or APIs that expect JSON.
Good fit for CSV
Tabular-data exchange
- Transferring one simple table between applications
Good fit for JSON
Web APIs, configuration files, and data exchange
- Transferring structured data
Basic information
| Field | CSV | JSON |
|---|---|---|
| Extension | .csv | .json |
| MIME type | text/csv | application/json |
| Common uses | Tabular-data exchange | Web APIs, configuration files, and data exchange |
| How to open | When importing into a spreadsheet, set the character encoding and delimiter. Check that leading zeros, date-like values, and long numbers are not automatically converted. | Open it in a text editor, IDE, or JSON-aware viewer. |
| Export or convert | Exporting XLSX to CSV normally writes values from only one selected sheet. Keep formulas, formatting, other sheets, and charts separately. | Applications or conversion tools can convert it to formats such as CSV. |
Choose by use case
Transferring one simple table between applications
Tabular-data exchange
CSVTransferring structured data
Web APIs, configuration files, and data exchange
JSONKey point 1
CSV is organized as records and fields and has limited support for nested structures or explicit types.
More on the differencesKey point 2
JSON represents objects, arrays, strings, numbers, booleans, and null.
More on the differencesMore on the differences
Confirm the receiver's schema and parsing rules. Check CSV delimiter and character encoding, or JSON types and required fields; neither format alone defines your application's full data contract.
- CSV is convenient for exchanging flat tables.
- JSON can represent hierarchical data but may need an agreed schema for application meaning.
Frequently asked questions
Can CSV represent nested data like JSON?
Not naturally. CSV is designed around rows and fields; nested structures usually need conventions that both systems agree on or a different format such as JSON.
Can CSV store nested JSON objects directly?
Not in a standard tabular way; flattening or a defined mapping is needed and may lose structure.