Compare
TSV vs CSV
TSV and CSV are plain-text formats for rows and columns. TSV separates fields with tabs, while CSV uses commas and has broad support across spreadsheet and data tools.
Which format should you choose?
Choose CSV for general interchange and compatibility; use TSV when comma-heavy text or simple tab-delimited workflows make it convenient.
Good fit for TSV
Exchange simple tables as text
- Tables with commas in many values
Good fit for CSV
Tabular-data exchange
- Transferring one simple table between applications
Basic information
| Field | TSV | CSV |
|---|---|---|
| Extension | .tsv | .csv |
| MIME type | text/tab-separated-values | text/csv |
| Common uses | Exchange simple tables as text | Tabular-data exchange |
| How to open | Use a text editor or spreadsheet application and specify tabs and the correct character encoding during import. | 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. |
| Export or convert | When converting between TSV, CSV, and XLSX, verify column counts, quoting, embedded tabs or line breaks, leading zeros, and dates. | Exporting XLSX to CSV normally writes values from only one selected sheet. Keep formulas, formatting, other sheets, and charts separately. |
Choose by use case
Tables with commas in many values
Exchange simple tables as text
TSVTransferring one simple table between applications
Tabular-data exchange
CSVKey point 1
CSV uses commas between fields and commonly needs quoting when values contain commas; TSV uses tabs.
More on the differencesKey point 2
CSV is more widely recognized by applications, while TSV can be easier for some text-heavy tables.
More on the differencesMore on the differences
CSV is usually the safer default for exports and integrations. TSV is practical for controlled pipelines or data whose values frequently contain commas, provided all tools agree on tab handling.
- CSV conventions vary around delimiters, quoting, and line endings; TSV also needs rules for tabs and newlines inside values.
- Spreadsheet programs commonly open both, but import behavior and encoding detection can differ.
- Neither format inherently stores types, formulas safely, or rich formatting.
Frequently asked questions
Which format should I use for a spreadsheet export?
Use CSV for the broadest compatibility; choose TSV when your recipients and import tools explicitly support it.