{"id":98380,"date":"2021-07-20T09:00:01","date_gmt":"2021-07-20T03:30:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/data-flair.training\/blogs\/?p=98380"},"modified":"2021-07-16T13:17:42","modified_gmt":"2021-07-16T07:47:42","slug":"csv-vs-excel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/data-flair.training\/blogs\/csv-vs-excel\/","title":{"rendered":"CSV vs Excel – Difference between CSV and Excel"},"content":{"rendered":"

Excel and CSV both help store data in tabular format. Besides this commonality, there are tons of differences in their respective features and usages. Let’s discuss these differences in detail in this article.<\/p>\n

Excel and CSV are table-like structures that help to store the data. There are various features that are different from each other and sometimes their usage also varies. Let\u2019s have a deeper look at the differences between them.<\/p>\n

CSV<\/h3>\n

CSV stands for Comma-Separated Values. The values in the CSV are in a text format separated by commas in a series of lines. The CSV files can be read by lots of applications and many languages use some built-in functions to simplify the reading and writing in it. CSV files are used for data analysis and data visualization purposes.<\/p>\n

MS Excel<\/h3>\n

MS Excel stands for Microsoft Excel. The data are stored in rows and columns in the worksheet of a workbook. The cell holds the data values of the file. Excel file is used to store the data and charts, graphs etc can also be added in the worksheet.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s see the difference between MS Excel Vs CSV<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Basic\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\nExcel<\/b><\/td>\nCSV<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Abbreviation<\/strong><\/td>\nMS Excel stands for Microsoft Excel.<\/span><\/td>\nCSV stands for Comma Separated Values.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Information<\/strong><\/td>\nExcel is a file which holds information about all the worksheets in a workbook.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nThe values in the csv are in a series text format separated by commas.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Files\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nExcel files are binary files.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCsv files are also known as flat files.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Performance<\/strong><\/td>\nThe values in the excel can perform calculations and can access macros, formulas etc.<\/span><\/td>\nThe values in the csv file do not have a formatting, macros, formulas etc. It just stores the data and it does not have access to any of it as excel files.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Extension<\/strong><\/td>\nThe excel files are saved with the extension .xls or .xlsx<\/span><\/td>\nThe CSV files are saved with the extension .csv<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Text editor\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nThe text editors cannot open or edit the saved excel files.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nThe text editors such as notepad, MS Excel etc can open or edit the saved csv files.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Schema\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nTo maintain a detailed standard schema specification in data-warehouse, excel is much preferable.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCSV maintains a simple and flat schema in the data warehouse.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Parsing the data<\/strong><\/td>\nIt is not easy to parse excel data to any programming language as it is usually large, slow and complicated.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nIt is easy to parse csv data to any programming language. The data is trivial and generating them is much easier.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Features<\/strong><\/td>\nExcel can manipulate the data by using features such as auto-formatting etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCSV cannot manipulate the data and it stores the data as-is.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Data Values<\/strong><\/td>\nExcel does not have a clear distinction about the data values. It cannot distinguish the numeric and text value data types<\/span><\/td>\nCSV is safe and it clearly distinguishes the difference between the numeric values and text values.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tags<\/strong><\/td>\nThe user has to have a start tag and end tag for each column in each row in Excel.<\/span><\/td>\nIn CSV, the user writes the column headers only once.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Memory\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nWhile importing the data, excel consumes much of the memory.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nWhile importing the data, csv consumes less of memory and it can be much faster.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Readability<\/strong><\/td>\nThe user finds it easier to read the data in excel. He can also make use of additional functions such as clicking on individual cells, filters, sorting, and reading their formulas in the formula bar, etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nThe user can not read large files in CSV.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Data<\/strong><\/td>\nExcel can also store data in graphs and charts format.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nEvery newline in csv signifies a new database row. CSV cannot store the data in charts or graphs format.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Opening platforms<\/strong><\/td>\nOnly Microsoft Excel documents can open the excel files.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nAny text editors in Windows like notepad, MS Excel etc can open the csv file.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
External Data<\/strong><\/td>\nThe user can connect the excel to external data sources to fetch the data. It allows for review of data with detailed tracking and commenting features.<\/span><\/td>\nThe user cannot connect the csv files to external data sources to fetch the data and the functionalities are not possible in csv.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Large Files<\/strong><\/td>\nExcel is easier for the end user to read huge files.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCSV is not easier for the end user to read files.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Other Languages<\/strong><\/td>\nBeing a developer, it\u2019s not easier to manipulate the excel data programmatically as the files are proprietary.\u00a0 This is true for every other language other than .NET.<\/span><\/td>\nBeing a developer, it\u2019s much easier to manipulate the csv data programmatically as they are just text files.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Similarities between CSV and Excel Files<\/h3>\n

CSV stands for “comma-separated values”. CSV files separate the data values. They store the data in the tabular format where the column names and row values are separated using commas. The following image shows a sample of CSV file<\/p>\n

    \n
  • The spreadsheet programs can open both excel and CSV files.<\/li>\n
  • The data value of both the files is stored in tabular format using the rows and columns.<\/li>\n
  • The functions and features are helpful to manipulate both files.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Let\u2019s see how the CSV file looks when opened in Excel:<\/p>\n

    Summary<\/h3>\n

    From this tutorial, we have learned the difference between excel vs CSV. CSV files consume very little memory compared to excel files while importing data. Text editors can open the CSV files but not the excel files.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Excel and CSV both help store data in tabular format. Besides this commonality, there are tons of differences in their respective features and usages. Let’s discuss these differences in detail in this article. Excel...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":98394,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24129],"tags":[24780,24781],"class_list":["post-98380","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ms-excel","tag-csv-vs-excel","tag-difference-between-csv-and-excel"],"yoast_head":"\nCSV vs Excel - Difference between CSV and Excel - DataFlair<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn the difference between excel vs CSV. CSV files consume very little memory compared to excel files while importing data. 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