CSV to JSON Converter

CSV (Comma-Separated Values) is a simple tabular format where data is organized in rows and columns, separated by commas or other delimiters. It's widely used in spreadsheets (Excel, Google Sheets) and data exports. JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a structured format that supports nested data, arrays, and key-value pairs. JSON is the standard for web APIs and modern applications. CSV is simpler and more compact for flat data; JSON is more flexible for complex structures.

This tool follows RFC 4180, the CSV standard. Values containing commas, quotes, or newlines should be enclosed in double quotes. For example: "San Francisco, CA". If a value contains quotes, they should be escaped by doubling: "He said ""Hello""". When converting JSON to CSV, the tool automatically adds quotes where needed and properly escapes special characters.

When enabled for CSV → JSON, the first row is treated as column names, producing an array of objects like [{name: "John", age: 28}]. Without it, you get an array of arrays: [["John", "28"]]. For JSON → CSV, this option adds a header row with property names at the top of your CSV output. Most spreadsheet applications expect headers for proper column labeling.

This tool works with CSV text, not Excel files (.xlsx, .xls) directly. To convert an Excel file: (1) Open the file in Excel or Google Sheets, (2) Export or "Save As" CSV format, (3) Open the CSV file in a text editor and copy the contents, (4) Paste into this converter. Most spreadsheet applications have a "Save As CSV" or "Download as CSV" option.

When converting JSON → CSV, nested objects and arrays are converted to their JSON string representation within the CSV cell. For example, {address: {city: "NYC"}}would become a cell containing {"city":"NYC"}. This preserves the data but may need additional processing if you need flat columns. For truly nested data, consider flattening your JSON structure before conversion.