How do CSV and EPUBcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
Comma-Separated Values
CSV is the simplest tabular data format — rows of values separated by commas. It's the universal exchange format for data between databases, spreadsheets, and programming languages.
Electronic Publication
EPUB is the open standard for digital books and publications. It supports reflowable content that adapts to any screen size, making it the preferred format for e-readers and reading apps.
| Specification | CSV | EPUB |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Comma-Separated Values | Electronic Publication |
| Extension | .csv | .epub |
| MIME type | text/csv | application/epub+zip |
| Category | Document | Document |
| Developer | IBM (original concept) | International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF) |
| Year introduced | 1972 | 2007 |
CSV and EPUB serve different purposes. CSV is ideal for data import and export, while EPUB excels at e-books and digital publications.
Need to switch formats? Convert for free with SquishConvert.