Name | CSV | TXT |
Full name | CSV - Comma-Separated Values | TXT - Raw text file |
File extension | .csv | .txt |
MIME type | text/csv | text/plain |
Developed by | Informational RFC | Microsoft |
Type of format | multi-platform, serial data streams | Plain text |
Description | In computing, a comma-separated values (CSV) file stores tabular data (numbers and text) in plain text. Each line of the file is a data record. Each record consists of one or more fields, separated by commas. The use of the comma as a field separator is the source of the name for this file format. | On most operating systems the name text file refers to file format that allows only plain text content with very little formatting (e.g., no bold or italic types). Such files can be viewed and edited on text terminals or in simple text editors. |
Technical details | The CSV file format is not standardized. The basic idea of separating fields with a comma is clear, but that idea gets complicated when the field data may also contain commas or even embedded line-breaks. CSV implementations may not handle such field data, or they may use quotation marks to surround the field. | Text file refers to a type of container, while plain text refers to a type of content. Text files can contain plain text, but they are not limited to such. At a generic level of description, there are two kinds of computer files: text files and binary files. |
File conversion | CSV conversion | TXT conversion |
Associated programs | Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice Calc | Notepad, TextEdit, WordPad, UltraEdit |
Wiki | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comma-separated_values | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Text_file |