CSV to TSV Converter

How to Use CSV to TSV Converter

Convert CSV (Comma-Separated Values) files to TSV (Tab-Separated Values) format with our simple CSV to TSV Converter. Automatically removes quotes and converts comma delimiters to tabs for seamless conversion.

Quick Start Guide

1. Paste CSV Data: Copy your comma-separated content and paste it into the input area
2. Auto-Convert: Click "Convert to TSV" to transform CSV to tab-separated format
3. Review Output: Check the converted TSV in the output area
4. Copy Result: Click "Copy TSV" to copy the converted data

Understanding CSV and TSV

What is CSV?

CSV (Comma-Separated Values) is the most widely supported format for tabular data, using commas to separate columns. CSV requires quoting values that contain commas, quotes, or newlines.

CSV Format:

name,email,age
Alice,alice@test.com,30
Bob,bob@test.com,25

CSV with Quotes:

name,address,city
"Smith, John","123 Main St, Apt 4","New York"

What is TSV?

TSV (Tab-Separated Values) is a text format where columns are separated by tab characters (\t) instead of commas. TSV is commonly used for data export to spreadsheets, databases, and analysis tools.

TSV Format:

name	email	age
Alice	alice@test.com	30
Bob	bob@test.com	25

Why Convert CSV to TSV?

• Data contains many commas (addresses, descriptions)
• Exporting to databases that prefer TSV
• Importing to Excel or Google Sheets from TSV
• Internal data exchange in simpler format
• Analyzing data in command-line tools

Conversion Process

How It Works:

1. Parse CSV: Split rows by newlines, parse comma-separated values
2. Handle Quotes: Remove CSV quotes and process escaped quotes
3. Extract Values: Get clean values from quoted/unquoted fields
4. Join with Tabs: Combine columns with tab separators
5. Output TSV: Generate properly formatted TSV

Automatic Quote Removal:

The converter automatically removes quotes from CSV:

CSV with Commas:

CSV: "New York, NY",USA,10001
TSV: New York, NY	USA	10001

CSV with Quotes:

CSV: "15"" Monitor",Electronics,299.99
TSV: 15" Monitor	Electronics	299.99

CSV with Multiple Quoted Fields:

CSV: "Smith, John","123 Main St, Apt 4","New York, NY"
TSV: Smith, John	123 Main St, Apt 4	New York, NY

Common Use Cases

1. CSV Export to Database

Before (CSV from Excel):

name,email,department
Alice Johnson,alice@company.com,Engineering
Bob Smith,bob@company.com,Marketing

After (TSV for PostgreSQL):

name	email	department
Alice Johnson	alice@company.com	Engineering
Bob Smith	bob@company.com	Marketing

2. Complex Data with Commas

Before (CSV with addresses):

name,address,city
"Smith, John","123 Main St, Apt 4","New York, NY"
"Jones, Sarah","456 Oak Ave, Suite 200","Los Angeles, CA"

After (TSV without quotes):

name	address	city
Smith, John	123 Main St, Apt 4	New York, NY
Jones, Sarah	456 Oak Ave, Suite 200	Los Angeles, CA

3. Product Catalog Export

Before (CSV):

id,product,price,description
1,Laptop,1200.00,"15"" screen, 16GB RAM"
2,"Desk, Standing",499.99,"Adjustable height, electric"

After (TSV):

id	product	price	description
1	Laptop	1200.00	15" screen, 16GB RAM
2	Desk, Standing	499.99	Adjustable height, electric

4. Data Analysis Import

Before (CSV):

metric,value,notes
Revenue,"$5,000.00","Up 5.2% from last month"
Users,"1,200","New signups increased"

After (TSV for R/Python):

metric	value	notes
Revenue	$5,000.00	Up 5.2% from last month
Users	1,200	New signups increased

Features

• Automatic Quote Removal: Removes CSV quotes intelligently
• Smart Parsing: Handles escaped quotes and special characters
• Preserves Data: Maintains all original data integrity
• Multi-line Support: Handles values with line breaks
• Real-Time Conversion: Instant feedback
• Statistics Display: Shows row and column counts
• One-Click Copy: Copy converted TSV instantly
• Privacy Protected: All conversion happens locally in your browser

Technical Details

Conversion Algorithm:

1. Split input by newline characters (\n)
2. For each line:
   • Parse CSV (handle quoted fields)
   • For each field:
     • If quoted: remove quotes and unescape double quotes
     • If unquoted: use value as-is
   • Join values with tabs (\t)
3. Join all lines with newlines

Quote Handling:

Per CSV standard (RFC 4180):

• Quoted fields are wrapped in double quotes (")
• Quotes within fields are escaped ("")
• Converter removes quotes and unescapes

Example:

CSV Input:  "15"" Monitor","Office, Supplies"
TSV Output: 15" Monitor	Office, Supplies

Performance:

• Processes thousands of rows instantly
• O(n*m) where n = rows, m = average columns
• Efficient in-browser processing

Best Practices

1. Verify CSV Format: Ensure input is properly formatted CSV
2. Check Output: Review converted TSV for proper formatting
3. Test with Sample: Try small sample before converting large files
4. Keep Original: Save original CSV before conversion
5. Validate Result: Verify TSV imports correctly to destination

CSV vs TSV Comparison

Feature	CSV	TSV
Delimiter	Comma (,)	Tab (\t)
Quoting	Often needed	Rarely needed
Readability	Standard format	Good for viewing
Support	Universal	Less common
Commas in data	Requires quoting	No problem
File size	Slightly larger	Slightly smaller

When to Use CSV vs TSV

Use CSV when:

• Importing to spreadsheets
• Web applications
• Standard data exchange
• Maximum compatibility needed

Use TSV when:

• Data contains many commas
• Exporting to databases
• Internal data exchange
• Analyzing in command-line tools

Common Issues and Solutions

Problem: Output has extra columns

Solution:

• Check that CSV is properly quoted
• Verify commas within data are inside quotes
• Ensure no stray commas in CSV

Problem: Quotes appearing in TSV

Solution:

• Converter automatically removes quotes
• If quotes remain, CSV may not be properly formatted
• Check that quotes are paired correctly

Problem: Lost data after conversion

Solution:

• Verify CSV is valid before converting
• Check that all quote pairs are closed
• Ensure newlines within fields are handled

Problem: Special characters not converting

Solution:

• UTF-8 encoding is preserved
• Special characters maintained during conversion
• Check source CSV encoding if issues persist

Import Sources

Common CSV Sources:

Excel:

• File → Save As → CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv)

Google Sheets:

• File → Download → Comma-separated values (.csv)

PostgreSQL:

COPY table_name TO '/tmp/output.csv' DELIMITER ',' CSV HEADER;

MySQL:

SELECT * FROM table_name
INTO OUTFILE '/tmp/output.csv'
FIELDS TERMINATED BY ','
ENCLOSED BY '"'
LINES TERMINATED BY '\\n';

Python Pandas:

df.to_csv('file.csv', index=False)

R:

write.csv(df, "file.csv", row.names=FALSE)

Export Destinations

After Converting to TSV:

PostgreSQL:

COPY table_name FROM '/tmp/input.tsv' DELIMITER E'\\t' CSV HEADER;

MySQL:

LOAD DATA INFILE '/tmp/input.tsv'
INTO TABLE table_name
FIELDS TERMINATED BY '\\t'
LINES TERMINATED BY '\\n'
IGNORE 1 ROWS;

Excel:

• File → Open → Select TSV/TXT file
• Excel auto-detects tab delimiter

Google Sheets:

• File → Import → Upload → Select TSV
• Choose "Tab" as separator

Python Pandas:

df = pd.read_csv('file.tsv', sep='\\t')

R:

df <- read.table("file.tsv", sep="\\t", header=TRUE)

Browser Compatibility

CSV to TSV Converter works in all modern browsers:

• ✅ Google Chrome (recommended)
• ✅ Mozilla Firefox
• ✅ Microsoft Edge
• ✅ Safari
• ✅ Opera
• ✅ Brave

Requirements:

• JavaScript enabled
• Modern browser (2020 or newer)

Privacy & Security

Your Data is Safe:

• All conversion happens in your browser using JavaScript
• No data is uploaded to any server
• No data is stored or logged
• Works completely offline after page loads
• No cookies or tracking
• 100% client-side processing

Best Practices for Sensitive Data:

1. Use the tool in a private/incognito browser window
2. Clear browser cache after use if on shared computer
3. Don't paste sensitive data in public/shared environments
4. Verify HTTPS connection (look for padlock in address bar)

Quick Reference

Input Format (CSV):

• Columns separated by commas (,)
• Values with special chars quoted
• Standard RFC 4180 format

Output Format (TSV):

• Columns separated by tabs (\t)
• Rows separated by newlines (\n)
• No quoting needed

Conversion:

• Comma → Tab
• Remove quotes
• Unescape double quotes