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Comma-separated values
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<p>Comma-separated values (CSV) is a <a href="/facts/Text_file/zYW4JmES">text file</a> format that uses <a href="/facts/Comma/mcW9dcGT">commas</a> to separate values, and <a href="/facts/Newline/ffeJz4Nn">newlines</a> to separate records. A CSV file stores <a href="/facts/Table_(information)/vQcp2QSb">tabular</a> data (numbers and text) in <a href="/facts/Plain_text/TSlSSAg2">plain text</a>, where each line of the file typically represents one data <a href="/facts/Record_(computer_science)/1fvSgenB">record</a>. Each record consists of the same number of <a href="/facts/Field_(computer_science)/jt622EDb">fields</a>, and these are separated by commas in the CSV file. If the field delimiter itself may appear within a field, fields can be surrounded with quotation marks. </p><p>The CSV file format is one type of <a href="/facts/Delimiter-separated_values/NyHMsLTN">delimiter-separated file format</a>. Delimiters frequently used include the comma, <a href="/facts/Tab-separated_values/TRyPhWXD">tab</a>, space, and semicolon. Delimiter-separated files are often given a ".csv" <a href="/facts/Filename_extension/cJgfAym4">extension</a> even when the field separator is not a comma. Many applications or libraries that consume or produce CSV files have options to specify an alternative delimiter. </p><p>The lack of adherence to the CSV standard RFC 4180 necessitates the support for a variety of CSV formats in data input software. Despite this drawback, CSV remains widespread in data applications and is widely supported by a variety of software, including common spreadsheet applications such as <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Excel/Ezal6G75">Microsoft Excel</a>. Benefits cited in favor of CSV include human readability and the simplicity of the format. </p>