CSV (Comma-Separated Values)
A CSV — short for comma-separated values — is a plain-text file that stores a table. Each line is one row, and within a line, commas separate the columns. That is the whole format: no fonts, no formulas, no special software, just rows of values a comma apart. A tiny CSV might read name,phone,rating on the first line and Joe's Diner,555-0100,4.6 on the next.
Its simplicity is exactly why it is everywhere. A CSV opens directly in Excel, Google Sheets, and Numbers — double-click and it becomes a familiar table — and it imports cleanly into databases, CRMs, email tools, and code. Because almost every program can read it, CSV is the closest thing data has to a universal handoff format — if two tools need to trade a table, odds are they both speak CSV.
The trade-off is that CSV is flat: it holds simple tables well but does not nest data inside data the way a format like JSON can. For most spreadsheet and lead-list work, that flatness is a feature, not a limit — it keeps the file readable by anyone.
How it relates to 1Scrape
1Scrape delivers every scrape as a CSV — one clean file, one row per post, profile, or business, with consistent columns. That means no reformatting between the scrape and the work: a lead list opens straight in Google Sheets for sorting, or imports into your CRM in one step. It is the format chosen precisely because it needs no code and no special tools to use.
Frequently asked questions
How do I open a CSV file?
Double-click it and it opens in Excel, Google Sheets, or Numbers as a normal table. You can also import it into a database, a CRM, or a script. Nothing special is required — CSV is readable by almost every data tool.
What is the difference between CSV and Excel?
CSV is a plain-text format that only stores the data — rows and columns of values. An Excel file (.xlsx) can also store formatting, formulas, and multiple sheets. Excel opens CSVs happily, which is why scrapers hand back CSV: it is simpler and universally compatible.