Format comparison
TXT vs CSV
How do TXT and CSVcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
.txt
Full guide →Plain Text File
TXT is the simplest document format — pure text with no formatting. It's universally compatible, lightweight, and readable by every operating system and text editor in existence.
.csv
Full guide →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.
| Specification | TXT | CSV |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Plain Text File | Comma-Separated Values |
| Extension | .txt | .csv |
| MIME type | text/plain | text/csv |
| Category | Document | Document |
| Developer | N/A (universal standard) | IBM (original concept) |
| Year introduced | 1960s | 1972 |
TXT advantages
- Universal compatibility — works everywhere
- Tiny file sizes
- No formatting issues or version problems
- Human-readable and machine-parseable
TXT limitations
- No formatting, images, or styling
- No structure beyond line breaks
- No metadata or document properties
- Not suitable for professional documents
CSV advantages
- Universal data exchange format
- Human-readable plain text
- Tiny file sizes
- Supported by every data tool
CSV limitations
- No formatting or styling
- No data types — everything is text
- Encoding and delimiter issues common
- No support for multiple sheets or formulas
Which should you use?
TXT and CSV serve different purposes. TXT is ideal for configuration files and logs, while CSV excels at data import and export.
Best uses for TXT
Configuration files and logs
Quick notes and drafts
Data exchange between systems
README files and documentation
Best uses for CSV
Data import and export
Database migrations
API data exchange
Data science and analysis pipelines
Convert between TXT and CSV
Need to switch formats? Convert for free with SquishConvert.