BASICS
Why do you need CSV?
There are a huge number of ways to use CSV format. However, the main applications are mostly related to ease of data access and portability of data.
Viewing and Editing Data
Whether you want to audit or clean up data, view large data sets, or share data with colleagues, the CSV format ensures that the data you have is easily accessible and readable in any spreadsheet.
Moving data between different programs and databases
If you have ever exported (downloaded) data from programs and applications, chances are that you have been offered a file with a ".csv" extension. There is a simple explanation for this.
The CSV format is the simplest and most commonly used format for structuring data. CSV organises your set of data written in text form, separating each value with a comma (or another common delimiter). No fancy formulas, no complicated formatting, no proprietary programming language.
The simplicity of CSV means that it is universally readable by any program you use to work with data, whether it's spreadsheets like Excel or Google Sheets or all kinds of CRM, marketing automation, or project management tools.
Another important convenience of CSV for data sharing is the fact that CSV is data stored exactly "as is." This means that your data will never be misformatted or mistranslated, no matter where you open it or where you import it. There's no formatting in CSV, so you can avoid the risk of a mess getting into your database when you upload.
Data Backup
Backing up data is an important business process, so it's important to make sure that your data is saved in a format that you can read and make available to you. CSV, being a universal language, ensures that the data you save can be opened and read.
Viewing and Editing Data
Whether you want to audit or clean up data, view large data sets, or share data with colleagues, the CSV format ensures that the data you have is easily accessible and readable in any spreadsheet.
Moving data between different programs and databases
If you have ever exported (downloaded) data from programs and applications, chances are that you have been offered a file with a ".csv" extension. There is a simple explanation for this.
The CSV format is the simplest and most commonly used format for structuring data. CSV organises your set of data written in text form, separating each value with a comma (or another common delimiter). No fancy formulas, no complicated formatting, no proprietary programming language.
The simplicity of CSV means that it is universally readable by any program you use to work with data, whether it's spreadsheets like Excel or Google Sheets or all kinds of CRM, marketing automation, or project management tools.
Another important convenience of CSV for data sharing is the fact that CSV is data stored exactly "as is." This means that your data will never be misformatted or mistranslated, no matter where you open it or where you import it. There's no formatting in CSV, so you can avoid the risk of a mess getting into your database when you upload.
Data Backup
Backing up data is an important business process, so it's important to make sure that your data is saved in a format that you can read and make available to you. CSV, being a universal language, ensures that the data you save can be opened and read.
