Tech Comparisons
CSV vs JSON
CSV and JSON serve different purposes in data exchange. Understanding their strengths helps you choose the right format for your needs.
| Feature | CSV | JSON |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Flat, tabular structure. Rows and columns like a spreadsheet. | Hierarchical, nested structure. Objects, arrays, and primitives. |
| Readability | Easy to read in spreadsheet apps. Human-readable plain text. | More verbose but self-describing. Requires JSON viewer for large files. |
| Data Types | All values are strings. No native type support. | Strings, numbers, booleans, null, objects, arrays. |
| File Size | Compact for tabular data. No key repetition. | Larger due to key names repeated for each object. |
| Nested Data | Difficult to represent nested or hierarchical data. | Native support for nested objects and arrays. |
CSV Pros & Cons
Pros
- Compact file size for tabular data
- Universal spreadsheet support (Excel, Google Sheets)
- Simple to parse and generate
- Easy for non-technical users
Cons
- No data type support
- Poor for nested data
- No standardized schema validation
- Encoding issues with commas and quotes
JSON Pros & Cons
Pros
- Native data types
- Hierarchical data support
- Self-describing format
- Schema validation (JSON Schema)
Cons
- Larger file sizes
- Harder for non-technical users
- Verbose for simple tabular data
- No built-in comments
Verdict
Use CSV for simple tabular data exports, spreadsheet compatibility, and when working with non-technical users. Use JSON for APIs, nested data structures, configuration files, and when data types matter. For complex data, JSON is superior. For simple reports and data sharing with Excel users, CSV is ideal.