vs
csv
TSV vs CSV: what is the difference?
A clear, practical comparison with a straight answer.
Use CSV as the universal default, since every tool expects it. Use TSV when your data is full of commas, such as addresses or free text, because tabs sidestep the quoting rules that make CSV fragile.
TSV and CSV are near-identical: both store a table as plain text with one row per line. The only real difference is the character between columns, a tab for TSV and a comma for CSV.
That small choice matters more than it sounds. Commas appear inside real data all the time, forcing CSV to quote and escape; tabs almost never do, which makes TSV simpler for messy text.
.tsv vs .csv at a glance
| .tsv | .csv | |
|---|---|---|
| Column separator | Tab | Comma |
| Quoting needed | Rarely | Often, for commas and quotes |
| Spreadsheet support | Good | Universal |
| Clipboard default | Yes, from spreadsheets | No |
| Risk with messy text | Low | Higher |
| Best for | Text with commas | General interchange |
Frequently asked questions
Is TSV or CSV better?
Neither is universally better. CSV is more widely expected; TSV avoids quoting headaches when values contain commas. Pick based on your data and tools.
How do I convert TSV to CSV?
Open it in a spreadsheet and save as CSV, or replace tabs with commas carefully, quoting any value that itself contains a comma.