JSON vs CSV: which format should you use?
JSON and CSV are the two most common formats for moving tabular data between applications. CSV is a simple grid of rows and columns; JSON is a nested, typed structure. Each is better for different jobs.
CSV: simple and universal
CSV is a plain-text table. Spreadsheets, database tools and practically every import feature read it, which makes it ideal for exporting reports or moving data between systems. The weakness: no nesting, no types, and no obvious way to represent a hierarchy or an empty cell vs a missing value.
JSON: structure and types
JSON supports objects, arrays, numbers, booleans and null, so it mirrors how applications actually think about data. It is the default for APIs and configuration. The weakness: it is verbose, and flattening a deep structure into a spreadsheet takes extra work.
- Use CSV when a human will open it in Excel or Google Sheets.
- Use JSON when an API, config or frontend consumes the data.
Convert between them
The Json Csv Converter flattens a JSON array of objects into CSV columns, or rebuilds the nested structure back from CSV. Combine it with the Json Formatter to inspect the structure first — formatting before converting reveals exactly how the rows will map.