TSV / PSV / CSV Delimiter Converter

Convert between CSV, TSV, PSV (pipe), SSV (semicolon), and custom delimiters. Auto-detects input format.

Last reviewed: April 2026
Reviewed by , software engineer · last updated April 2026

New to this tool? Click here for instructions

Input: → Output:
Input
Output
Paste delimited text above to convert.

How to Use the Delimiter Converter

To use the TSV / PSV / CSV Delimiter Converter, follow these steps:

1. Paste your data into the input area on the left (or top on mobile).

2. Select the input format - or leave it on "Auto-detect" and the tool will figure it out.

3. Choose the output format - CSV, TSV, PSV, SSV, or a custom character.

4. Configure options - toggle header row, trim whitespace, or always-quote output fields.

5. Review the table preview - verify columns look correct before copying or downloading.

6. Copy or download - use the buttons above the output with the correct file extension.

  • Auto-detects input format
  • Handles quoted fields
  • Preview as table
  • Free and 100% client-side

When to Use Each Format

Use CSV when sending data to Excel, Google Sheets, or any spreadsheet - it is the universal spreadsheet import format.

Use TSV when your data contains commas and you want to avoid quoting complexity - TSV is simpler to parse in scripts.

Use PSV when working with legacy database exports or log files from tools that output pipe-delimited records.

Use SSV when your audience uses European locale settings - Excel on those systems opens .csv files using semicolons.

Use a custom delimiter when you are designing a proprietary data format or working with a system that requires a specific delimiter.

How It Works

The TSV / PSV / CSV Delimiter Converter uses a simple and effective algorithm to detect the delimiter character in your input data. It analyzes the first five rows of your input and counts occurrences of comma, tab, pipe, and semicolon characters outside of quoted strings. The delimiter character that appears most consistently is selected. If the data is ambiguous, the tool defaults to comma. You can always override auto-detection using the input format selector.

The tool supports a wide range of input and output formats, including CSV, TSV, PSV, SSV, and custom delimiters. It also handles quoted fields and embedded delimiters according to the RFC 4180 standard.

Tips, Edge Cases, or Limitations

Always review the table preview before copying or downloading your output to ensure that the columns are correctly formatted.

The tool is 100% client-side, meaning that your data is never sent to a server. All processing is done in your browser.

The tool supports a wide range of input and output formats, but it may not work with all types of data. For example, it may not handle data with complex data types or nested structures.

The tool does not support all file types. It only supports CSV, TSV, PSV, SSV, and custom delimiters. If you need to convert to a different file type, you may need to use a different tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

CSV (Comma-Separated Values) uses commas as delimiters, TSV (Tab-Separated Values) uses tabs, and PSV (Pipe-Separated Values) uses pipes. Each format has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of format depends on the specific needs of your data and the tools you are using.
The auto-detect feature analyzes the first five rows of your input and counts occurrences of comma, tab, pipe, and semicolon characters outside of quoted strings. The delimiter character that appears most consistently is selected. If the data is ambiguous, the tool defaults to comma. You can always override auto-detection using the input format selector.
Yes, the tool handles fields that contain the delimiter character according to the RFC 4180 standard. Fields containing the delimiter, a double-quote, or a newline must be enclosed in double quotes. A double-quote within a quoted field is escaped by doubling it ("").
No, the tool is 100% client-side, meaning that your data is never sent to a server. All processing is done in your browser.
The tool supports a wide range of output formats, including CSV, TSV, PSV, SSV, and custom delimiters. You can download the output as a file with the correct file extension.