Forms & data
What is CSV?
CSV, short for comma-separated values, is a plain-text way to exchange a table of records between tools, using separators and quoting rules to keep the fields in each record distinct.
By Plainview WebReviewed
The meaning
A CSV file commonly starts with a header naming its columns, followed by records containing the values. Commas separate fields. Double quotes surround a value that contains a comma, line break or quote; a quote inside that value is doubled. A record containing a quoted field can therefore occupy more than one text line.
CSV does not carry spreadsheet styling, multiple worksheets or a standard declaration of each column’s data type. The receiving application decides how to interpret values. Files also vary in encoding, separators and header conventions, so confirm the format expected by the tool that will import them.
An example
A fictional stock list
item_id,title,quantity
0042,"Notebook, blue",12
0043,Sketch pad,8This table has three columns and two items. The quotes keep Notebook, blue together in one field. The identifier 0042 is written with its leading zeros, but opening the file in a spreadsheet may convert it to 42. Import that column as text when the complete identifier must be retained.
When it matters
CSV is useful for moving a product list, directory or other table without requiring both systems to use the same workbook software. Before a real import, check a small sample for column alignment, accents, dates, identifiers and the expected number of records.
Plainview’s CSV Cleaner & Converter keeps values as strings while you review cleanup and choose columns. It can export delimited text or JSON. Keep the original file and compare the result with it, especially after removing duplicates or excluding columns. A clean export still needs the receiving application’s correct import settings.
A common confusion
Quotation marks do not force a spreadsheet cell to be text
CSV quoting separates fields; it does not reliably prevent type conversion or formula interpretation. The cleaner offers formula mitigation for delimited exports, enabled by default, but that is not a universal guarantee across spreadsheet applications and repeated saves. Review unfamiliar files and keep the receiving system’s behavior in mind.