CSV to TSV: Switch Delimiters Without Data Loss
CSV and TSV are nearly identical formats — the only difference is the delimiter character. This converter switches between them correctly, handling quoted fields with embedded commas and tab characters so no data is lost or misaligned in translation.
Tabs embedded within a CSV field value are replaced with a space to prevent them from being misread as delimiters in TSV output.
When TSV is Preferable to CSV
TSV is a better choice when your data naturally contains commas — addresses, product descriptions, and code snippets all cause quoting headaches in CSV. Excel's clipboard copy format is also TSV, so pasting from a spreadsheet directly into a tab-separated context avoids the import wizard entirely.
Two-Way Conversion
The Swap button reverses direction. Paste a TSV, convert to CSV for an API that only accepts comma-delimited files. Or paste a CSV, convert to TSV for pasting into Excel or a database tool. The converted output immediately appears in the output pane ready to copy.
Quote Handling
The converter parses both formats fully before re-serializing. Fields that contain the output delimiter are automatically quoted in the output. A value like 'New York, NY' stays intact when converting to CSV; a value containing a literal tab becomes space-substituted when outputting TSV.
Practical Examples
Pasting Google Sheets Data into a CSV Field
Google Sheets copies data as TSV. Convert to CSV for an API upload.
- 1.Select and copy cells from Google Sheets (Ctrl+C)
- 2.Paste into the input box
- 3.Select TSV → CSV conversion direction
- 4.Copy the CSV output and paste into your upload or API field
What the Converter Handles
- RFC 4180 quoted fields with embedded commas
- Tab replacement in field values when outputting TSV
- One-click swap to reverse conversion direction
- All data rows preserved without truncation
Good Use Cases
- Converting clipboard-pasted spreadsheet data (TSV) to CSV
- Preparing data for tools that accept only one delimiter type
- Switching format for different database import wizards
- Normalizing exports from heterogeneous data sources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is TSV?
TSV (Tab-Separated Values) uses a tab character as the field delimiter instead of a comma. It is commonly used in bioinformatics, linguistics, and tools like Excel when exporting with tab separation.
How are fields with tabs handled when converting CSV to TSV?
Tab characters within field values are replaced with a space to prevent them from being misinterpreted as delimiters in TSV output.
Can I convert TSV back to CSV?
Yes — use the Swap button to reverse direction. The tool will re-quote any CSV fields that contain commas or double quotes.