How to Use csv-to-tsv
- Paste your comma-separated data into the input.
- The delimiter is automatically detected; override it in the options if needed.
- The output is tab-separated — each comma is replaced with a tab character.
- Copy the TSV or download it for import into spreadsheets or databases.
Tab-separated values (TSV) is the exchange format preferred by many spreadsheet applications, bioinformatics tools, and database import utilities — it sidesteps the quoting complexity that arises when data fields contain commas. This converter switches the delimiter from comma to tab, correctly handling RFC 4180 quoted fields in the input.
CSV vs TSV: Choosing the Right Format
CSV uses a comma and requires quoting for fields containing commas or newlines. TSV uses a tab character and requires quoting for fields containing tabs or newlines — but tabs rarely appear in data, making quoting uncommon. TSV is slightly simpler to parse and is the default paste format from Excel on most platforms. The downside: TSV files don't have a universally agreed file extension (.tsv and .txt are both used) and some tools don't recognise them by extension.
- Converts CSV to TSV with correct handling of quoted fields
- Removes unnecessary quoting in the output where fields are tab-safe
- Preserves embedded newlines within quoted fields
- Download as
.tsv for direct spreadsheet import
Frequently Asked Questions
Does copying from Excel produce CSV or TSV?
Copying cells from Excel and pasting into a text editor produces tab-separated values with no quoting. This is because tabs are safe delimiters for typical spreadsheet data. Saving as CSV from Excel produces comma-separated values with quoting.
What if my CSV fields contain tab characters?
Fields with embedded tabs must remain quoted in the TSV output. The converter detects this and preserves the quoting. However, if the target system cannot handle quoted TSV, you'll need to remove the embedded tabs from the data first.
Is TSV an official standard?
IANA registered the media type text/tab-separated-values in 1993 (RFC 4180 is for CSV). TSV has no formal detailed specification like RFC 4180 for CSV, but the convention is universally understood: tab delimiter, optional header row, newline-terminated rows.
Can spreadsheets open TSV files directly?
Yes. Excel, Google Sheets, and LibreOffice Calc all open .tsv or .txt files. Excel detects the tab delimiter automatically when the file extension is .tsv or when using File > Open > Text Import.
See also TSV to CSV, CSV to JSON, and the CSV Delimiter Changer.
