Convert CSV to JSON Online
Free, private CSV to JSON converter. Your files never leave your browser. All processing happens locally on your device.
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How to convert CSV to JSON
Drop your CSV file
Drag your file onto the converter above, or click to browse your files. Your files stay on your device.
Automatic conversion
FormatShift converts your file right in your browser using WebAssembly. No server involved, so your data stays completely private.
Download your JSON file
Once the conversion finishes, click the download button and you are done. The converted file is ready to use.
Why convert CSV to JSON?
You have tabular data in CSV that you need to use in a web application or API. JSON is the standard data format for web development and most APIs expect it.
What is a CSV file?
Comma-Separated Values: CSV is the simplest way to represent tabular data as plain text. Each line is a row, and commas separate the columns. Spreadsheet apps, databases, and data tools all speak CSV.
Created by: No single creator. The format has been used since the early days of computing.
Used for: Data exchange, spreadsheet import/export, database dumps, analytics data
Technical details: Plain text with comma delimiters (or semicolons/tabs in some regions). No data types, no formatting, no formulas. Just rows and columns.
Compatibility: Opens in Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice, and any text editor. Every programming language can read CSV.
What is a JSON file?
JavaScript Object Notation: JSON is the standard format for exchanging data between web applications. APIs, config files, and data storage all use it. The format is simple enough to read by eye but structured enough for machines to parse.
Created by: Douglas Crockford, popularized in the early 2000s
Used for: APIs, configuration files, data exchange, web applications, NoSQL databases
Technical details: Text-based format supporting objects, arrays, strings, numbers, booleans, and null. No comments in standard JSON. Nested structures allowed.
Compatibility: Every programming language has a JSON parser. All modern web APIs use it.
CSV vs JSON
| Feature | CSV | JSON |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Comma-Separated Values | JavaScript Object Notation |
| Best for | Data exchange, spreadsheet import/export, database dumps, analytics data | APIs, configuration files, data exchange, web applications, NoSQL databases |
| Compatibility | Opens in Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice, and any text editor. Every programming language can read CSV. | Every programming language has a JSON parser. All modern web APIs use it. |
| Pros | Simple, universal, human-readable, small file sizes | Human-readable, universal in web development, supports nested data |
| Cons | No data types, no formatting, inconsistent delimiter handling across regions | No comments, no date type, verbose for large datasets compared to binary formats |